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.
Lessons from one state’s effort to modernize its criminal justice system
New York’s sweeping 2020 law sought to accelerate pre-trial processes with technology upgrades. But the state’s experience offers lessons for other jurisdictions undertaking similar efforts to modernize the justice system.
Introducing the 2023 Rising Stars
Route Fifty is proud to participate in the Rising Star Awards, a program that recognizes innovative, early-career individuals who are already having an outsized impact in the government IT community.
Feds hope more data access will improve states’ SNAP delivery
The U.S. Agriculture Department is working to help states address card skimming and other persistent problems in the SNAP program.
Cloud adoption essential, but still challenging
Pittsburgh has racked up some early successes with its cloud migration, but a combination of limited finances, technical debt and the need to educate employees slows progress.
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