At NASCIO’s 2025 Mid-Year Conference, the energy in Philadelphia was focused on the future but grounded in pragmatism. In the post-conference State Tech Vision roundtable hosted by MeriTalk, Amanda Crawford, executive director and state CIO of Texas; Heather Abbott, West Virginia’s CIO; and Tom Nieto, president and COO of PayIt, unpacked how states are translating NASCIO’s top priorities into citizen-centered outcomes.
Tennessee’s Memphis-Shelby County Schools is the latest to file a Federal lawsuit against edtech provider PowerSchool for alleged negligence tied to a massive data breach, joining more than 100 districts across the country in seeking accountability.
The Missouri state Senate voted on May 13 to approve a bill that will require public school districts and charter schools in the state to adopt formal policies restricting K-12 student use of electronic personal communication devices during the school day.
With the fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations process underway, more than 165 local election officials and associations from 40 states are calling on Congress to provide $400 million in election security funding they say is necessary to protect the integrity of the voting process.
The town of Prosper, Texas, is deploying a new aerial drone system that officials said will help to improve emergency response times and enhance public safety efforts.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., is pushing to give the Commerce Department an extra $500 million for artificial intelligence (AI) tech capabilities – and to block state AI regulations – through the budget reconciliation process that is kicking off in Congress this week.
The state of New York is mandating “bell-to-bell” restrictions on K-12 student use of smartphones beginning in the 2025–2026 school year.
The U.S. Senate voted on May 8 to nullify a rule issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2024 that allows schools and libraries to use the government’s E-Rate program to buy discounted Wi-Fi hot spots and related mobile connectivity services for off-premises use by students, school staff, and library patrons.
California has launched an artificial intelligence-driven tool to accelerate rebuilding permits in Los Angeles following the Eaton and Palisades fires in January.
As state and local governments ramp up digital payment options to better serve citizens, industry and government leaders explained during the PayIt Government Adoption webinar that government leaders should push forward with service offerings that both improve citizen services and boost efficiencies for government.
