Infrastructure

Data center restrictions signed into South Dakota law after push for incentives failed

After lawmakers rejected incentives for large data centers, Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill that puts new limits on them.

Digital Government

Efforts to meet HR 1 Medicaid rules can also ‘build for the future’

Strategies to implement major changes to state Medicaid systems today could also help states better field future updates, experts explained during a recent webinar.

Sponsor Content

Social Media Accessibility for Governments: What to Know

72% of residents engage digitally—are your social posts accessible? Avoid legal risks, boost trust, and meet ADA standards with these must-know tips.

People

Former FEMA administrator reflects on tumultuous time for ‘people-first’ agency

Deanne Criswell, who led the agency under former President Joe Biden, said critics who want to shift responsibility to states and localities use a “lazy way” to characterize its mission.

Infrastructure

North Carolina invests $26M to expand high-speed internet into additional rural areas by 2026

The additional funding targets 5,161 homes, businesses and community anchor institutions in 66 counties across rural portions of the state.

Artificial Intelligence

NYC’s Education Dept. is releasing a long-awaited AI policy. Some schools already have their own.

Schools have embraced a wide variety of approaches, from policies outlining acceptable use, to bans, to no formal discussion of AI at all.

Digital Government

Maryland’s data lead reflects on ongoing ‘culture shift’

Natalie Evans Harris, the state’s chief data officer, said that, while sharing data can be difficult, centralizing it where possible can help agencies work together and make more holistic decisions.

Management

As Trump demands voter data, this fiercely independent Red State says no

Wary of federal intrusion, Idaho passed a law three decades ago allowing it to sidestep so-called motor-voter laws. The exemption and the sentiment behind it are fueling resistance to President Donald Trump’s Justice Department.

Artificial Intelligence

White House releases regulatory vision for AI

The framework includes seven AI policy recommendations for Congress, including a call to preempt what it terms "cumbersome" state AI laws.

Artificial Intelligence

When publishing stops being the endpoint

COMMENTARY | Government systems were not designed to be interpreted by AI, but by reducing the need for inference, there are ways to improve the process.

Management

Data is the building block to better government, Philadelphia official says

Philadelphia wants to revitalize one of its poorest neighborhoods and is leaning on data to keep officials accountable to the public throughout the process.

Sponsor Content

Moving Government Finance from Complexity to Confidence

Finance leaders face rising pressure see how modern platforms deliver faster insights better reporting and confident data driven decisions.

Digital Government

New ‘quirks’ could make states’ privacy laws impossible to follow, experts worry

Speakers during a recent webinar repeated their calls for Congress to pass a national standard, and warned that new approaches in several states could complicate matters further.

Digital Government

Trump’s anti-fraud task force poised to scrutinize benefits programs

The new White House task force will withhold government funding for state and local benefits programs if their anti-fraud controls are viewed as lacking.

Infrastructure

Granular driving and intersection data helps drive traffic safety investments

The Missouri Department of Transportation is turning to telematics data to identify high-risk intersections that officials hope will bolster their efforts to deploy solutions that can improve roadway safety.

Digital Government

City leaders predict ‘real bad trouble’ if FirstNet isn’t reauthorized

The reauthorization push ahead of the February deadline arrived at a National League of Cities conference this week as the effort moves through Congress.

Digital Government

Buying a ‘loot box’ in an online game? Some of the swag could help public schools under a Colorado bill

A bill aimed at enhancing data privacy for children would also subject online gaming add-on transactions to a 5% fee.

Management

Gov. Sherrill backs social media restrictions for young people

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill indicated support for bills demanding black box warning for frequent social media users and limits on targeted ads for minors.

Digital Government

Governments’ website accessibility deadline is fast approaching

It’s still unclear how the federal government will enforce the rule for larger jurisdictions under the Americans with Disabilities Act, while small jurisdictions have another year to comply.