State Government
Doug Mastriano calls on Congress to support DOGE as he backs state-level DOGE bill
The former candidate for Pennsylvania governor has sponsored legislation seeking to create a state-level Department of Government Efficiency.
Innovation meets ideology: The political challenges facing today’s CIOs
COMMENTARY | Recent moves at the federal level could seep into state and local governments, and risk politicizing traditionally apolitical efforts to improve technology offerings.
Top considerations for adopting a whole-of-state cybersecurity strategy
COMMENTARY | A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so states must emphasize collaboration and resource sharing across their entire ecosystem to better protect themselves.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s cellphone ban in schools advances
The Legislature advanced LB140 to second reading Monday with bipartisan support, 44-0, with five lawmakers not voting or excused.
School cellphone bans spread across states, though enforcement could be tricky
The research on social media’s harmful effects has moved lawmakers to bipartisan action.
Amid DOGE push, states wrestle with defining ‘government efficiency’
Several states have instituted new committees in their legislatures in a bid to rein in spending. But others suggest the path to efficiency is less about grabbing headlines and more about finding new ways of working.
Teens on social media: Red, blue and purple states are all passing laws to restrict and protect adolescents
COMMENTARY | New restrictions on how children and teens can spend time online remain concentrated at the state level.
Rethinking budgeting: A transformative approach for state and local governments
Given the fiscal realities that the majority of governments now face in the post-COVID era, they need to think differently about how they allocate their resources.
Iowa floats first state-level ‘Department of Government Efficiency’
Gov. Kim Reynolds said the new task force would build on the state’s previous efforts to consolidate agencies and technology, which has already saved millions of dollars.
State governments seek to leverage AI’s promise while mitigating its hazards
Governments are experimenting with the technology and actively deploying it, but still must wrestle with policies governing its use and the potential fiscal impacts.
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In times of crisis, states have few tools to fight misinformation
Social media companies have pushed back against efforts to crack down on falsehoods.
Amid budget ‘crisis,’ Maryland looks to modernize government
Gov. Wes Moore this month signed an executive order mandating agencies review data to find cost savings. He also is looking to modernize the state’s permitting and licensing processes.
For New York statewide school cellphone ban, Hochul proposes $13.5 million to cover costs
The proposal came Tuesday as Hochul presented her $252 billion 2026 state budget, which would send roughly $37.4 billion to schools across the state.
A challenging transition for new state CIOs
Several people are new to leading their state’s technology divisions and must navigate all manner of rules and laws while trying to make their own mark on the position.
After AI’s busy 2024, expect more of the same next year
States are likely to further attempt to regulate the technology and understand how it can benefit their governments and residents. But there are warning signs that rules deemed heavy-handed will remain unpopular.
Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges
A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill prohibiting minors from using social media accounts as school districts become a “hunting ground” for online dangers.
Could states’ cyber get trickier under a Trump admin?
Some Republicans have proposed eliminating CISA altogether, which could complicate information sharing efforts. More pressing, though, is the ending of federal cyber grants.
After passing a few AI laws in 2024, this state's legislature might have more in store next session
Idaho's Artificial Intelligence Working Group heard from experts on generative-AI about its promises, and challenges.
States reject changes to how elections are administered
Advocates had hoped ranked choice voting would be instituted in more states but were left disappointed last night. Only Washington, D.C. and some small municipalities approved its use.
‘Renewable energy growth is truly a 50-state story now’: New report shows big jump in solar, wind, EVs
A coalition of environmental groups finds U.S. renewable energy development has tripled in the past decade.
