Technology
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.
Alabama lawmaker pushes for screen time limits for children
Jeana Ross, R-Guntersville, said research shows that less screen time for children from birth until five years old helps build social skills.
What people really want from digital government services
COMMENTARY | Interactions with government happen at crucial moments in people’s lives, but can be dogged by confusing processes. Research shows they want simplicity.
5 reasons delivery teams should include policy experts in the age of AI
COMMENTARY | Policy experts are uniquely equipped to leverage AI in bridging the gap between policy and implementation.
Hochul signs watered down AI regs, but New York lawmakers still got some wins
After Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed completely rewriting the bill with exact wording from a weaker California law, legislators negotiated back in measures that went beyond the West Coast version.
Could self-driving cars be on a collision course with Zohran Mamdani?
The incoming mayor has not weighed in on the autonomous vehicles that have taken other cities by storm. But he’s certain to face pressure to do so, from both the industry and taxi workers.
Hochul and legislative leaders play game of chicken with AI regulations
Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to rewrite the RAISE Act with language nearly identical to a California law, a hard no for lawmakers.
How automated data can help states address new SNAP requirements
COMMENTARY | The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will change social service programs substantially. Automation can reduce the need for caseworkers to sift through paperwork.
From legacy to leadership: The new era of government payments
COMMENTARY | Agencies must deliver seamless experiences to keep up with the private sector, and evidence suggests they are doing just that.
AI as a thought processor: Implications for learning and understanding
COMMENTARY | The tech is helping us form ideas and test arguments, and so could change how we think. We must be intentional about how we integrate it into our lives.
Featured eBooks
New York City graduates first IT academy class
More than two dozen participants earned a certificate of completion from the program, which helped them understand city systems, HR and learn best practices from IT leaders.
Pennsylvania businesses are all in on AI
With $90 billion in investments on the horizon, the commonwealth is positioning itself as a leader in artificial intelligence.
New York City will try (again) to regulate AI
The council passed a package of bills creating a new ‘office of algorithmic accountability.’ It’s not the first attempt to rein in AI use.
Kansas looks to tech to modernize agency rulemaking
The state will use a cloud-based platform to draft, publish and take comments on regulations, having relied on paper since 1965.
Inside the Secret Service hunt for skimmers as outdated SNAP cards let thieves steal millions
The government still uses 1970s-era technology to deliver SNAP, leaving beneficiaries vulnerable to transnational crime rings that have taken hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits in recent years.
From flashlight fixes to future-ready innovation: Why we must stop patching and start building anew
Real innovation isn’t about fixing old switches. It’s about recognizing when it’s time to stop patching and start fresh.
From technologist to ‘digital governor’: State CIO role has evolved dramatically
Once expected to be a purely technical role, research found the job has evolved to be a strategic leader, communicator and bridge between the governor, legislators and more tech-focused positions.
Pennsylvania lawmakers study ‘bell-to-bell’ cell phone ban in schools
Cell phone usage in schools is a hot-button issue in the state.
States’ IT modernization dreams run into budget realities
Federal funds have largely dried up, meaning state tech leaders are worried about how they will be able to afford to execute their strategies and wondering where more money can come from.
Here’s how NY plans to regulate kids’ use of social media
The state attorney general’s office released draft rules around age verification and prohibitions on showing algorithmic feeds to minors without parental permission.
