Artificial intelligence
Utah bill requires AI companies to share safety plans for children and the public
The legislation would increase company transparency but wouldn’t ‘micromanage algorithms,’ sponsor says.
Most workers at risk from AI can transition, report finds
Recent research from the Brookings Institution warned that while most workers exposed to AI can pivot, millions in administrative and clerical roles may struggle.
Amid the AI-driven boom in energy demand, rural Texans fight a high-voltage transmission line
Texas’s most powerful transmission line threatens pristine river basins and family ranches. Locals and conservationists are fighting to reroute it.
AI preemption ‘top of mind’ for state, local tech leaders
Observers called for an intergovernmental working group as well as better collaboration, one month on from President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting “cumbersome” state AI regulations.
As AI-generated fake content mars legal cases, states want guardrails
"Hallucinated" material has made its way into hundreds of court cases.
Modernizing government: The role of AI and automation in government innovation
COMMENTARY | The tech is vital in governments’ modernization efforts, but a fundamental rethinking of how services are delivered in the digital age is also required.
AI improvements to Medicaid must account for needs of eligibility workers, experts say
Improving the efficiency and accuracy of Medicaid programs is a big challenge for states. A good place to start is by designing solutions with eligibility workers front and center, experts say.
Predatory AI, social media addiction targeted by new legislation from Michigan Senate Democrats
A bill package includes protections for data privacy, rampant online targeting and potential exploitation of minors.
Sensors in Utah’s roads aim to improve commercial vehicle safety and efficiency
The Utah Department of Transportation has adopted artificial intelligence-enabled tech that spots unsafe tire conditions before they become a safety hazard.
‘I think about Jurassic Park’: DeSantis-backed AI Bill of Rights clears first committee hurdle
A key proposal from Gov. Ron DeSantis aimed at shielding Floridians from the growing power of artificial intelligence unanimously cleared its first committee hurdle Wednesday.
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House hearings highlight AI divides
Two separate hearings last week shone light on lingering issues over preempting state and local AI regulations and the role of Congress in finally forming a national standard.
Outrage over surge of data centers in Georgia inspires wave of bipartisan bills
Proposals call for transparency, elimination of tax perk and more.
Counties wrestle with data centers’ power consumption
A recent survey from the National Association of Counties found that more than half of leaders spend time discussing data centers and other energy-intensive facilities.
AI therapy chatbots draw new oversight as suicides raise alarm
Despite Trump efforts to override state laws, legislators press ahead.
While Washington talks AI, 16,000 small towns are on their own
COMMENTARY | Federal initiatives and state programs to help local governments navigate artificial intelligence are flourishing. But they're barely reaching the communities that need them most.
Report: How governments can balance fraud prevention with benefit accessibility
Research suggests that some Americans can accept some level of benefit fraud to ensure more eligible recipients have access to the assistance they need.
New York lawmakers are ready to try regulating the AI industry again
Past bills attempting to rein in the powerful industry have been watered down, but lawmakers have ambitious plans to regulate AI in 2026.
Denver schools blocking students’ access to ChatGPT over concerns about group chats, adult content
District officials said the popular AI chatbot’s new features could lead to cyberbullying and expose students to content related to self-harm and violence.
Wyoming County approves construction of what could become the largest data center in US
The project could eventually use the same amount of electricity as produced by 10 nuclear power plants, boosting Wyoming’s energy industry while challenging efforts to limit emissions and stressing water supplies.
This year’s top trends in aerial imagery, AI and GIS
COMMENTARY | These technologies will propel state and local governments forward in 2026, and will transform how they understand realities, anticipate risks and protect their communities.
