Digital Government

Parking tech can help cities generate revenue amid economic uncertainty

Efficient parking management can also help attract more people to downtown areas that are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts, experts say.

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Eliminate Manual Processes Route and Approve Invoices from Anywhere

Today’s finance teams carry a heavy burden, supporting everything from growth strategies to long-term planning – all while continuously delivering monthly and quarterly numbers and keeping cash flowing. But even as demands on finance departments grow, many still spend excessive time using paper, spreadsheets, and e-mails to process vendor invoices, approvals, and payments.

How Idaho uses data to fill in-demand jobs

The Idaho LAUNCH scholarship program grants students up to $8,000 to cover tuition and fees at eligible institutions, if they are looking to be trained in an area that needs more workers.

New Mexico AG opposes U.S. House GOP efforts to restrict state laws on AI

As U.S. House Republicans seek to ban states from passing laws to regulate AI, state AGs, including in New Mexico, push back.

At least 20 states have reportedly lost digital equity grant funding

States across the country have had their grant funding pulled after President Donald Trump announced he was ending the program. Program supporters say they are plotting their next steps.

Texas lawmakers are poised to ban minors from social media

The Texas Legislature has already passed a bill requiring age verification to download apps and is seriously considering another to ban children from social media.

South Carolina database makes addiction treatment measurement accessible

The platform is the first of its kind to break down care delivery county by county and help understand how well treatment is working.

DOGE trend hits Texas, Jacksonville governments

The Lone Star State became the latest to sign legislation establishing its own Department of Government Efficiency, while Jacksonville appears to be among the first cities to set up a DOGE.

Report: Text reminders for court hearings can help boost justice system efficiency

Sending simple, timely reminders to court users can help mitigate the costs of missed court hearings that create burdens across judiciary systems, one expert says.

Missouri upgrades system for public benefits program WIC to allow remote benefits loading

Missourians receiving federal food assistance for low-income women and children will face fewer administrative hurdles.

Missouri lawmakers pass ban on cell phones in public school classrooms

A bill passed by the state legislature will require school districts to create a policy banning cell phone usage throughout the school day.

Police department turns to new data tool to boost performance

The Rochester, New York, Police Department started using a tool known as Commons in April. It provides frequently updated criminal justice data and can help set policy goals.

BEAD uncertainty swirls, joined by Trump’s threats to the Digital Equity Act

State leaders want more guidance from the federal government amid a 90-day delay in their final plans. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he will kill a related digital equity program.

AGs in both Carolinas target Chinese app linked to international fentanyl trade

The Chinese messaging app WeChat has more than a billion users globally. Six state attorneys general want to know how it is fighting its use for money laundering.

Albany’s blueprint for schools: cell-free halls, looser Yeshiva rules, new aid math

It’s up to school districts in New York to figure out how to implement cellphone bans, but the budget does include $13.5 million to assist districts in purchasing supplies that can help.

Tech helps New Jersey house unsheltered veterans

More than 30,000 U.S. veterans were unsheltered last year. New Jersey is turning to a cloud-enabled platform to streamline and expedite efforts to get veterans in the state housed.

Senate votes to repeal rule allowing Wi-Fi hotspot loans

Senators passed a resolution overturning an FCC rule that allows schools and libraries to use E-Rate funds to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots. Opponents said the effort would only widen the digital divide.

Doing less with less: Coping with federal cutbacks and fiscal uncertainty

COMMENTARY | Shrinking revenues and rising costs put state and local governments in a bind, especially as the federal government retreats. Strategic austerity might be the path forward.

How states can prepare to leverage AI for benefits eligibility

As benefits application backlogs continue to mount, artificial intelligence could help ease the squeeze on already strained caseworkers, experts say.

Alabama governor to weigh cellphone ban bill

Gov. Kay Ivey in her 2025 State of the State endorsed legislation to ban cellphones in schools, saying that social media is negatively impacting students.

Problem solved: How data makes cities more efficient, effective and attuned to AI

COMMENTARY | If the public sector wants to operate at peak performance, it must harness its data and deploy it across all its functions. Cities across the world are showing what is possible.