Modernization

Government transformation can succeed, if we stop setting projects up to fail

COMMENTARY | What three state projects can tell us about why major checkpoints in government transformation rarely work as intended.

The changing face of procurement

COMMENTARY | Even before the Department of Government Efficiency took hold, state-level contracting was ripe for innovation. A lot more work lies ahead to modernize it.

How a cloud transformation aims to improve one school district’s operations

The Chicago Public Schools District is undergoing a cloud transformation to improve business processes, and, ultimately, better serve students.

Feds cancel unemployment modernization grants for states

The grant dollars — which the Department of Labor has been doling out since Congress allocated funding for fraud and access work in 2021 — don’t align with department priorities anymore, the agency says.

Watchdog details how to build community trust in smart cities

A new report from the Government Accountability Office offers policy suggestions for officials to ensure smart city tech can be deployed in communities safely and effectively.

Minneapolis automates food permitting, removes ‘two-feet high’ paper stack

Having previously relied on handwritten permit applications and taking payment by phone, the city now uses cloud-based software to automate much of the process and make it more efficient.

Nevada turns to AI to speed up unemployment appeals

The state partnered with Google Public Sector on a system that analyzes appeals hearings against state and federal law to help adjudicators reach a decision. They say it’s made the process four times quicker.

After RIBridges breach, R.I. state agencies share high tech wish lists at budget hearing

Nearly four months after a cyberattack shut down a public benefits system in Rhode Island, it is fully operational again. State officials now face new challenges, including upgrading aging tech and navigating uncertain federal funding.

Illinois green lights modernized vehicle title and lien processing system

The state is exploring how an electronic approach to vehicle registrations and purchasing can lower costs for residents and financial institutions.

GSA launches FedRAMP revamp

One major goal of the changes is to speed up the timeframe for agencies to get access to the latest technology quickly, “not months or years down the road,” the agency’s acting administrator said.

AI ‘consultant’ tool helps agencies speed up operational improvements

The AI product underscores how tech can amplify a human’s work not replace it, one official says.

Rural Pennsylvania increases resident satisfaction with public transit modernization

One Pennsylvania transit agency hopes to be a guiding light for rural communities looking to embark on modernization journeys.

Amid budget ‘crisis,’ Maryland looks to modernize government

Gov. Wes Moore this month signed an executive order mandating agencies review data to find cost savings. He also is looking to modernize the state’s permitting and licensing processes.

New Jersey helps businesses get online

The state’s Small Business E-commerce Support Program offers funding to help less-resourced companies’ digital transformations.

How system modernization is helping Idaho mitigate unemployment

The Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses is leveraging a new web-based portal to make it easier and quicker for people to obtain professional licenses and enter the workforce.

‘Individualized’ government tech could improve customer experience, Florida official says

Rich Evans, CIO of Florida’s Department of Management Services, said during a recent workshop the public sector should embrace emerging technologies as a way of better serving constituents.

Tech modernization, civil service protection big priorities for Virginia's new House Democrat

Virginia’s first Indian-American congressman-elect will bring some tech policy chops to Capitol Hill.

Government technology segments to watch

COMMENTARY | With all the pressures on government agencies, they must embrace innovative solutions.

LA’s push for modernization looks to spur housing development, reduce agency costs

A centralized portal for permitting services, experts say, will help the city streamline the application and approval process and could set the stage for other municipalities to follow.

Inside one state’s effort to digitize 911 to improve public safety

In Arizona, officials hope next generation 911 capabilities will help improve the state’s public safety response and supplement the work of understaffed dispatcher teams.