3 Cornerstones of Constituent Engagement This paper examines how state and local government agencies can improve constituent engagement and experience by strengthening identity and access management, adopting GenAI chatbots and offering mobile apps. It offers best practices for implementing and measuring the impact of these vital technologies. DOWNLOAD
5 Essential Strategies for
Security and Compliance in the Cloud This thought leadership paper shares the five strategies your
organization needs to hit all your security and compliance goals. Read more to
learn how visibility, automation and more can provide the best protection for
your data in the cloud. DOWNLOAD
A Decade’s Worth of Knowledge
About the Gov Tech Market The technology
market serving state and local government has changed a lot since we first
published the GovTech 100 in 2015. Here’s what we’ve learned. READ MORE
A New Role for
Opportunity Zones: Rebuilding After Disasters A combined federal and state effort to redesign the
boondoggle-prone economic development program could also provide the blueprint
for rebuilding devastated communities. READ MORE
Advance your AI transformation
through skilling Discover essential AI
skills for public servants at the Public Sector Center for Digital Skills. EXPLORE THE
RESOURCES
AI and Cloud Strategies for
State and Local Agencies This guide
explores how AI-powered tools and cloud infrastructure can help government
agencies overcome the challenges of tight budgets and aging infrastructure.
Case studies from California and Utah demonstrate the transformative impact of
these strategies, saving dollars and accelerating service delivery. DOWNLOAD
AI Disruption: The DeepSeek Effect on Wall Street,
Governments and Beyond The past week has been full of
headlines regarding DeepSeek AI. So what lessons can we learn from this
whirlwind of media stories and the corresponding reactions from governments and
Wall Street? READ MORE
AI for Public Finances: Keeping Data Safe as You Modernize [Feb 5] Join us for a live webinar exploring essential strategies for ensuring the integrity and security of AI-driven finance systems. REGISTER
An Underused Workforce Solution at the Border A visa program created under NAFTA allows Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in the U.S. with minimal red tape. But to take advantage of it, states need to look at the Catch-22 situation created by their occupational licensing requirements. READ MORE
ANNOUNCING CDG-NACo’s Digital
Counties Survey 2025! The Center for Digital
Government and National Association of Counties invite all U.S. counties to
participate in the Digital Counties Survey. DIGITAL
COUNTIES SURVEY ONLINE
Are Independents Showing Us a Path
Away from Political Polarization? They split their tickets
in last year’s elections more than they have in the past, and they were more
likely to identify as moderates. It’s cause for optimism. READ MORE-
Arizona Invests in Cyber,
Workforce for Economic Growth As Arizona's recent economic growth has created new job market
opportunities, the state has been supporting cybersecurity initiatives and
collaborations to bolster evolving workforce needs. READ MORE
Boost Economic
Mobility in Your Community Discover
tools and strategies that help local governments create economic opportunities
for residents. READ MORE
California City Considers Law Making
It Illegal to ‘Aid’ or ‘Abet’ Homeless Camps Republican
Gov. Mike DeWine has proposed a new refundable child tax credit and increases
in child care and children’s health funding, along with full funding for public
schools. READ MORE
California Might Kick 400,000 Kids
Off Medicaid Last year, legislators approved
funding to fill a coverage gap. The law, however, was overridden by a ballot
measure involving pay increases for doctors. READ MORE
California’s Ethics Board Opens Door
to Greater Political Influence from Lobbyists After a
two-year investigation into a sprawling donor network, the Fair Political
Practices Commission found it did not violate any rules. This finding will make
it easier for groups to coordinate fundraising and donations. READ
MORE
Can a Charter School Be Religious?
The Supreme Court Could Redraw the Lines. At stake in a
case from Oklahoma is whether the court will expand the boundaries of
government aid to faith-based institutions. It would be a sea change in
education law. READ MORE
Can the Minnesota House Salvage A Bipartisan Session? A tense fight over party control of the Minnesota House ended with a power-sharing agreement this week. But hard feelings could remain. READ MORE
Cannabis Law and Policy Symposium Join the Government Law Center and Government Law
Review at Albany Law School for an enlightening symposium examining
cannabis law, policy, and governance. Registration is required. The
deadline to register is February 21, 2025. Click
to Register
Changing
the Search Cycle to Find Government IT Staffers As tech
positions go unfilled across public-sector organizations, recruiting experts
recommend lowering the hurdles. Suggested strategies include clarifying job
descriptions and tailoring hiring processes. READ MORE
Collaboration Can Enable an Age of AI Innovation To harness
the transformative power of GenAI, technologists must reimagine traditional
approaches to procurement. READ MORE
Creating Seamless Public
Services Through Automated Software Testing Watch this on-demand webinar for an insightful discussion of how
automated testing is transforming government services. WATCH NOW
Do You Back Up Google Workspace
& Microsoft 365? Safeguarding your SaaS
data is on you. Let SysCloud make it easy. LEARN MORE
Drowning
in Data, Law Enforcement Turns to Video Analytics A global
survey of law enforcement reveals the top tech tools, from those empowering
criminals to those aiding law enforcement. The North American data reveals
unique challenges and priorities. READ MORE
Every Woman Who Leaves This Texas
Prison Program Comes Out With a Job A re-entry program near
Waco, Texas, has proven successful. Not only does every participant come out
with a job, but their recidivism rate is 73 percent lower than incarcerated
women throughout the state as a whole. READ MORE
Gov Tech
Biz Quarterly Roundup: Q4 2024 With Jeff Cook As gov tech
market expert Jeff Cook expected, the final quarter of 2024 was slow — though
the year, overall, was notable. However, he also anticipates a major uptick in
activity coming in the first quarter of 2025. READ MORE
Health Experts Are Flying Blind Amid
Vanishing Public Health Data “The removal of critical
health information from governmental public health sites is chilling and puts
the health of the public at risk,” said Richard Besser, a former acting
director of the CDC. READ MORE
Here’s What Digital Inclusion Looks
Like on the Ground Digital navigators across the country show up for their
communities by teaching the technical skills people need in an increasingly
digital world. READ MORE
How Alabama Made Tax
Services More Accessible The
Alabama Department of Revenue faced significant operational challenges with its
legacy systems, which were not meeting evolving needs for scalability, security
and efficiency. Learn how the agency decided to move to the cloud to address
these challenges, and more. DOWNLOAD
How Indiana Is
Driving Down Its Hospital Costs Gloria Sachdev has spent years taking on the health care
establishment in Indiana, working to pull down high hospital prices and make
information public to patients. Now, in a newly created position in the
governor’s Cabinet, she’s no longer fighting from the outside. READ MORE
How Minnesota
Created a Text Message System for Family Benefits The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS)
revolutionized its outreach efforts by launching an innovative SMS text
messaging system to connect with constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This system enabled real-time communication about critical benefits, ensuring
that families received timely and vital support. Download this paper to explore
how Minnesota DHS overcame challenges, achieved measurable success, and laid
the groundwork for scalable innovation. DOWNLOAD
How to
Avoid the Most Common Cryptocurrency Scams Cryptocurrency has
revolutionized the financial landscape, offering a decentralized way to buy,
sell and invest. But with innovation comes risk. READ MORE
How Will L.A. House Everyone Now? The
city was already in the grip of an affordability crisis – last month’s massive
fires just made everything worse. What can L.A. learn from other disaster
recovery efforts? READ MORE
Ideal Partners: Do Tech Leaders Prefer Big Providers
or Startups? We spoke to technology leaders to
understand whether they prefer to partner with small or large tech providers to
support their IT work. READ MORE
Improve Economic
Mobility in Your Community Equip your
team with data-driven tools to address barriers and enhance local
opportunities. LEARN
MORE
In Massachusetts, Cybersecurity Is
First a People Issue The state has been successful at reducing its cyber
vulnerabilities by nearly 50 percent in the last year, its CISO said, as it
undertakes a statewide strategy to grow a cybersecurity culture. READ MORE
Inaugural Phoenix CPO Will Lead Its Data Protection
Efforts Officials at Arizona’s capital city have elevated
an executive into the new role of chief privacy officer. She will help to
improve data governance, mitigate privacy risks and ensure compliance with
privacy laws. READ MORE
It's Time to Consolidate Cybersecurity Regulations An
ever-growing number of regulations and standards leaves many government cyber
experts wondering if more guidelines necessarily equate to better
cybersecurity. READ MORE
L.A. District Sets Aside $2.2 Billion
to Rebuild Schools Voters approved $9 billion in
school construction bonds last fall. The district must rebuild schools
destroyed or damaged by smoke or fire and intends to make them more resilient. READ MORE
Looking for a Surefire Political Win?
Ban Junk Fees. It’s an opportunity for state lawmakers. The
public hates these surprise charges, and they put businesses that price their
services transparently at a disadvantage. READ MORE
Louisiana
Technology Leader Heads to Dell Technologies Derek Williams was elevated to
state CIO last year after having served as deputy CIO since late 2022. He is a
veteran Louisiana technologist, and has been with the Office of Technology
Services since its creation. READ MORE
Mankato, Minn.,
Police Look to Expand Video, AI Use Police there are preparing to use
high-definition camera systems, license-plate tracking, software powered by
artificial intelligence and a nationwide law enforcement surveillance
network. READ MORE
Maximizing the
Impact of On-Site Solar Energy for Local Governments Read about this comprehensive approach to on-site solar
energy can catalyze local government transformation. READ MORE
Minnesota County Launches Mobile App to Fight Food Insecurity The Hometown Food Security Project has launched an
innovative mobile app designed to transform how the community addresses food
insecurity. READ MORE
Missouri Opens Prison Nursery to Keep
Babies With Moms Pregnant women who are incarcerated
will move into the facility next week. For now, only women with 18 months or
less to serve can participate but the program may expand over time. READ MORE
New ChatGPT Gov Enables Use of Non-Publicly Available
Data ChatGPT Gov is the latest artificial intelligence tool from
OpenAI, geared toward expanded use by government agencies, and offering another
way to access advanced machine learning models. READ MORE
New Michigan House Elections Chair Is
an Election Denier GOP state Rep. Rachelle Smit, a
former local clerk, continues to spout false claims about the 2020 election.
She’s now the chair of the Michigan House’s newly renamed Election Integrity
Committee. READ MORE
New York's Proposed Budget Would Add IT Staff for Cyber, AI The Empire State’s fiscal year 2026 budget would, if approved by the state Legislature, add hundreds of employees to the IT workforce, to help the government be more efficient and use tech better in serving constituents. READ MORE
NYC Commits to Harnessing AI, Announces
OpenAI Partnership A new report lays out the strategy of the city and the New
York City Economic Development Corp. in leading on applied artificial
intelligence. Goals include fostering a dynamic AI ecosystem. READ MORE
Ohio Governor’s Budget Places
Emphasis on Helping Children Republican Gov. Mike DeWine
has proposed a new refundable child tax credit and increases in child care and
children’s health funding, along with full funding for public schools. READ MORE
Outdated Printers Are Costing
You - Here's How to Fix That Watch this
on-demand webinar to learn how to make your print environment more secure and
efficient. WATCH NOW
Outpacing Government? Lessons from Watch Duty’s Rise Watch
Duty’s success raises questions about why citizen-led tech is outpacing
government emergency response efforts. The company’s co-founder explores the
lessons agencies can learn from this citizen-driven model. READ MORE
Paid Family Leave webinar resources now available The New York State's Workers' Compensation Board
thanked those who attended its recent Paid Family Leave (PFL) webinar for
employees. For those who were unable to attend, or for participants who would
like to review the information provided, click recorded version.
Phoenix Privacy Officer Plans Cultural Shift in
Protection The city’s inaugural Chief Privacy
Officer Ciara Maerowitz is working to weave privacy into processes, get risk
assessments done, and promote a culture of responsible data use and
transparency in public services. READ MORE
Private Security Guards Are Filling
Gaps in Policing (But Not All of Them) Understaffed police
departments and concerns over public safety are spurring greater use of private
security guards. But they aren't a perfect substitute. READ MORE
Red States Create Their Own DOGE
Efforts to Pare Down State Governments GOP governors and
lawmakers have set up their own government efficiency task forces and
committees to find ways to cut state spending. READ MORE
Restructured Calif.
High-Speed Rail Is Poised to Lay Track Now under new leadership, the
California High-Speed Rail Authority is set to move into a new phase of
development. Plans are to begin train service in the Central Valley in five to
eight years. READ MORE
See the Unseen: How Video
Analytics Enhances Public Safety See how video analytics empowers public safety teams with real-time
insights, helping to reduce crime, manage crowds, and ensure community safety. DOWNLOAD
SLED
Procurement Firm Starbridge Raises $10M in Seed Funding The company
offers early warning data via its platform that can give suppliers of
government technology an edge when it comes to contracts. The company’s founder
explains the ideas driving his firm. READ MORE
Social Media Strategies for State and Local
Governments Struggling to engage your community on social
media? This guide provides a roadmap to navigate the challenges and unlock the
potential of social media for state and local government. DOWNLOAD
State Health Departments Prepare for
a Period of Uncertainty State and local public health
departments rely on federal funding to operate. With those dollars at risk amid
the Trump administration’s federal funding freezes, they’re bracing for the
future. READ MORE
State of Oklahoma OMES Takes a
Whole-of-State Approach Spearheading a
“whole-of-state” approach to essential services, Oklahoma OMES strives to
increase efficiency, reduce financial and administrative overheads, and
eliminate the duplication of effort, making it easier for the state’s agencies
and affiliates to focus on their core missions. READ MORE
States Prepare for Increased
Immigration Enforcement in Schools Red states are in sync
with the Trump administration’s efforts, but some Democratic governors are
reminding districts to protect immigrants’ legal rights. READ MORE
Syracuse,
N.Y., Police Probe Online ‘Security Incident’ A problem
detected in early January prompted the city police department to shut down its
computer system in order to contain its spread. Many components have been
restored but a secure server is still coming back online. READ MORE
Texas Gov. Abbott Calls for
Creation of New Cyber Command The Texas Cyber Command would work
closely with state agencies, universities and Regional Security Operation
Centers to improve cybersecurity. Gov. Greg Abbott announced it during his
State of the State address Sunday. READ MORE
Texas
Governor Bans Chinese AI, Social Apps on Govt Devices Gov. Greg
Abbott has issued a ban prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence and
social media apps associated with the People’s Republic of China and the
Chinese Communist Party, on government-issued electronic tools. READ MORE
Trump Moves to Abolish FEMA, Shift
Disaster Response to States President Trump, who calls FEMA
“not good,” has issued an executive order and established a commission to look
at ending the agency. He favors having states respond to their own disasters,
but they may not have adequate resources. READ MORE
Trump Should Reshape FEMA, Not Kill
It Solutions include funding the federal agency properly,
requiring states to share a larger burden of the responsibility and removing
barriers to resilience. READ MORE
Trump's Federal Funding Freeze Puts
'Solar For All' Program in Limbo The
program is designed to offer solar power to households in low-income and
disadvantaged communities. Grant recipients received notice from the federal
government that funding was put on pause with no indication when or if they
might receive it. READ MORE
Tyler Buys Public Administration, Permitting Startup
MyGov MyGov serves some 150 clients and gives Tyler a way
to boost its product offerings to local governments. The move comes as public
administration stands as one of the main gov tech opportunities for 2025. READ MORE
What State Lawmakers Could Do for
Working-Class Americans By empowering them to bargain and
providing other protections, policymakers can address frustration over flat
wages and inflation, while strengthening local economies. READ MORE
When It Comes to Tax Cuts, South
Carolina Is a Red State Outlier South Carolina residents
are seeing rates go down thanks to a law passed in 2022, but the state still
charges a lot more than North Carolina and other southeastern neighbors. READ MORE
Will Forcing People
Into Mental Health Treatment Help Them? For years, states strictly limited the amount of time people
could be institutionalized. With homelessness rising, some policymakers want to
do more. READ MORE
Will Trump Roll Back an Anti-Cancer
Environmental Rule? Last month, the EPA issued a rule to
step up monitoring and limit worker exposure to ethylene oxide, a
cancer-causing molecule. But in his first term, Trump rolled back dozens of
environmental rules, making residents of Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” nervous. READ MORE
With $13M from Feds, Maryland Will Modernize Crash Reporting The state plans to use a $13.2 million grant from
the federal government to standardize interagency crash data, improve its
quality and make it easier to access. Funds may also be used to automate data
sharing. READ MORE
With Outreach, Resources, Governments Mark Data
Privacy Day U.S. officials commemorated Data Privacy Day in
several ways, ranging from spreading awareness to sharing informational
materials at state and local levels. Observance of the occasion originated in
2007. READ MORE