Better broadband needs better data collection, report says
A new report from The Pew Charitable Trusts said the federal government has made progress, but BEAD and other programs could still struggle to achieve their goals.
Usual cities dominate AI readiness, but more are rising
Traditional tech hubs like Silicon Valley, New York City and other major metro areas are still leading in AI, according to the Brookings Institution. But more are showing promise and could catch up.
Virginia looks to AI to ‘supercharge’ streamlining regulatory requirements
The commonwealth’s Office of Regulatory Management has already streamlined more than a quarter of regulations. Now, it will turn to agentic AI to accelerate that mission.
Metaverse takes ‘guesswork’ out of Georgia city’s planning, official says
Peachtree Corners, Georgia, now has a digital twin of its downtown in the metaverse, which it can use to make data-driven decisions.
Louisiana becomes third state to pass app store accountability law
It follows Texas and Utah in passing legislation this year to mandate that app stores identify when users are minors and require parental consent before they download apps.
State DOGEs tackle local spending, property taxes
Florida’s has asked for line-by-line accounting of its local governments’ spending and any evidence of financial distress. Iowa appears to be targeting local taxation.
Texas age verification decision could create a First Amendment ‘pornography exception,’ experts worry
The Supreme Court ruled the state could require users to verify their age before visiting porn sites. Some are concerned about the future of the internet and free speech.
New York cyber law strengths local reporting requirements
Local governments that are hacked now have 72 hours to tell the state, and 24 hours to disclose if they paid a ransom. The new law also mandates cyber training and sets data protection standards.
AI moratorium could return despite removal from ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
Senators passed an amendment removing the provision that would have prevented states regulating the tech for 10 years. But some experts warn that a repeat effort is likely and could be successful.
How Washington State maps current — and future — EV charging
The Evergreen State has turned to GIS to map charging infrastructure, as well as using other data to help guide planners on where they should invest next.
Major broadband subsidy survives Supreme Court challenge
By a 6-3 majority, Justices upheld the Universal Service Fund, which subsidizes low-income and rural Americans’ phone and internet bills.
Supreme Court upholds Texas online age verification law
Justices said a state law requiring adult entertainment sites to verify users’ ages is constitutional.
Birmingham, Alabama ‘steadfast’ in Tech Hub commitment
The Magic City received a $44 million federal implementation grant in January, only to see it rescinded in May. Mayor Randall Woodfin said he is confident of final success, but otherwise will keep building the city as a tech leader.
How Wisconsin’s economic development arm has embraced AI
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has leaned into the technology to streamline its operations and gain efficiency, all while helping the state attract new business and maintain what it already has.
Santa Monica, California, revamps procurement ‘bottleneck’
The city has turned to Glass to run a new e-commerce platform that allows staff to make quicker purchases, keep track of contracts and maintain more transparency into the process.
Budget worries prevent more IT modernization, survey says
State and local leaders want to modernize their legacy systems, but uncertainty over federal funding is stymieing their progress, an EY survey shared exclusively with Route Fifty found.
Maryland already seeing ‘big impact’ from federal DOGE cuts
Cuts thus far in 2025 are hitting as hard as two years of federal sequestration cuts a decade ago, state Comptroller Brookie Lierman said. Maryland is now looking to further diversify its economy.
South Carolina takes its benefits call centers to the cloud
After “dismal” timeliness ratings, the state’s Department of Social Services modernized so its centers would be more reliable and use AI to help more quickly administer cases.
‘More research needed’ on regulating human and AI relationships
Chatbots can provide companionship in certain situations, but speakers at a recent event said much more work is needed to understand and mitigate the risks, as well as educate users.
Lawmakers highlight success, bipartisan agreement on school cellphone bans
A recent House hearing showcased success at the state and district level as the bans gather steam nationwide. But Democrats warned that reduced federal funding for education will not help improve educational outcomes.
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