Modernization

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.

California to kick off first open enrollment season with automated system

The state piloted using artificial intelligence to help with automatic enrollment. Now this year’s open enrollment period is underway, the new system faces its first test.

How Nebraska's new tech chief is moving the state out of the era of mainframes and landlines

Nebraska’s technology infrastructure is outdated and its data is largely neglected. Matthew McCarville, the state’s new CIO, has big plans to change that, and it starts with the state’s employees.

The IRS has made its free tax filing tool permanent. Now, these states want to take it a step further.

Maryland and North Carolina are the latest to join Direct File. They are also planning to allow taxpayers to seamlessly file their state returns alongside their federal ones. It’s a new frontier for tax filing tools, experts say.

Meet the 2024 Rising Stars

This year's cohort of Rising Stars has been selected for their accomplishments and impact over the past year and for their leadership potential.

Governments often struggle with massive new IT projects

Culture, bureaucracy and serving a broad patchwork of agencies can make a comprehensive technology update a challenge, experts say.

New $255M federal grant will help state, local public health agencies modernize data systems

The program looks to improve data sharing infrastructure and processes for public health agencies to better detect and manage health threats.

How the pandemic led to innovation in one state’s public health response

The Washington State Department of Health has undertaken a major push to transform its offerings, not just by looking to new technologies but reimagining some of its old processes.

Inside the Department of Labor’s collaboration with New Jersey to overhaul unemployment programs

A new application for unemployment claims in the Garden State marks the result of a years-long federal effort to help states modernize their jobless aid efforts.

The key to filling IT talent gaps? Invest in your current workforce.

COMMENTARY | Retaining IT talent requires more than just competitive pay and defined career paths.

Mobile hunting, fishing licenses streamline conservation management

Minnesota’s new system will replace a paper-based license purchase and harvest registration process, saving staff time and improving customer service.

From paper to portal: How one city brought tax filings online

Under an aggressive modernization strategy, Columbus, Ohio, has built a one-stop shop for filing income tax returns.

How the procurement process can help agencies acquire responsible AI

Buying artificial intelligence is not just about setting new policies to manage emerging technology, but applying tried-and-true processes, one expert says.

No longer just nice to have: Data literacy essential to digital government

While more data-mature cities are seeing payoffs from upskilling staff, even small gains can make a big difference.

Unwinding the public health emergency: Medicaid agencies should slow down to speed up

COMMENTARY | States that take the time to strategically adjust their staffing, processes and technology could ultimately speed up the Medicaid redetermination process.

How to hire faster in the public sector

COMMENTARY | By rethinking its recruitment processes, technology and organization, one city cut the time it took to fill vacancies by 38% in two years.

Cloud a ‘game-changer’ for health insurance marketplace

When California’s health insurance marketplace migrated to the cloud, it cut costs, improved consumer experience and gained the ability to scale to demand.

New life for old coal: Mine lands and power plants are hot renewable development spots

Converting old coal plants to renewable energy storage sites can set states up for job creation and increased tax revenue, one observer says.

Government runs on a 64-year-old language. Could AI help change that?

COBOL is still relied on for many essential services. But as experts in the language retire, states are looking at new technologies and ways to change workplace culture to help ease the transition away from it.