State Government

Pennsylvania House committee splits along party lines over regulation proposal for AI chatbots

Some lawmakers noted the federal government has yet to draft a nationwide set of standards for AI and related technologies.

The missing link in digital government: Connectivity

COMMENTARY | Many residents receive information on mobile devices, and any government that does not have a mobile-first strategy risks leaving them behind.

Business group calls for better coordination as California adopts AI

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group said state and local agencies should coordinate better on the technology and go deeper in evaluating whether the tools and systems are effective.

When AI becomes the first interpreter, government needs a new information layer

COMMENTARY | Government information is always available. The question is whether it can be consistently understood in the systems that increasingly deliver it.

America’s data center backlash is bipartisan — can it stay that way?

As opposition mounts, some experts wonder how long AI infrastructure can steer clear of the partisanship that defines U.S. politics.

Former New Jersey official argues AI could strengthen, not weaken, democratic institutions

Beth Simone Noveck, a former top AI official in New Jersey, recently released a new book that explains how the technology can help government work better and restore trust in it.

The workforce cliff: What happens when the last IBM i engineer retires from government

COMMENTARY | Many agencies still rely on mainframes, which are built on programming languages kept alive by a shrinking group of late-career specialists. This creates operational and cybersecurity risks.

It was a pretty good year for regulating AI in New York

State lawmakers passed a variety of artificial intelligence guidelines before the end of the legislative session.

More states restrict 3D-printed firearms

At least six states this year have outlawed or imposed regulations on such guns.

Report shows steady, yet uneven, AI adoption across US

Microsoft said the lag can be attributed to urban adoption being double what it is in rural areas, though college towns are another powerful diffuser of the technology.

States are moving fast on AI. Now, we must measure what matters

COMMENTARY | Several are already charting a path forward on how to use the technology, but few have built the systems needed to measure its long-term impact.

States have more than one option for 2027 benefits verification — but may not know it

COMMENTARY | Agencies must take an approach designed for adaptability to help manage changing requirements, keep costs under control and improve outcomes.

More states look to preempt local AI laws, report finds

The Local Solutions Support Center found that a dozen bills in nine states look to limit local regulations and promote a so-called “right to compute,” backed by a powerful conservative group.

How a data center derailed $240,000 for affordable housing in rural Maine

In rural Midcoast Maine, nearly a quarter of a million dollars in federal money earmarked for housing was rescinded from a small town after local officials sought to use the funds for a data center.

State CIOs are more change leaders than techies, report says

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers found its members are being asked to simultaneously keep systems running and innovate, with tech expertise far less important.

State cyber officials’ confidence is down, survey finds

The study by NASCIO and Deloitte found that just 26% of respondents are extremely or very confident they can protect themselves from cyber threats, down from 48% in 2022.

Future of Nebraska Broadband Office unclear following reduction in federal BEAD funds

Broadband Office director Patrick Haggerty steps down, as others work to secure $340 million in unallocated federal funds.

Government leaders see ‘momentum’ in agencies’ AI adoption

Speakers at the Google Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas last week said the shift from pilot programs to implementation has accelerated in the last year, and will keep doing so.

Government efficiency initiative hits Arizona

Amy Edwards Holmes, who will lead the state’s Capacity and Efficiency Initiative, said the effort will look to leverage tech and empower employees to save $100 million in three years.

Connecting learners and employers requires more than just good technology. It needs real leadership.

COMMENTARY | Talent marketplaces help support skills-based hiring, but states need to do more than turn to tech platforms and merge data if they are to be successful.