Priorities Podcast

StateScoop

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Each Wednesday, StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast explores the latest in state and local government technology news and analysis. Listen to in-depth conversations with government and industry’s top executives, and learn about trending stories affecting state and local IT leaders ranging from modernization and digital accessibility to the latest advances in generative artificial intelligence.

5d ago

How a registry helped Minnesota reach “functional zero” in veteran homelessness

How a registry helped Minnesota reach “functional zero” in veteran homelessness Last week, Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesota is the fifth state to effectively end veteran homelessness, a milestone known as “functional zero.” Functional zero does not mean veteran homelessness across the state has been eliminated, but it does mean that homelessness has become rare, brief or nonrecurring. Walz said the achievement represents years of focused work and targeted investments to support veterans and their families, such as the creation of Homeless Veteran Registry. The statewide tool identifies veterans experiencing homelessness and connects them to public services. Top stories this week: Georgia election officials say an artificial intelligence agent developed by Anthropic accessed publicly available election data through the state’s Data Hub, but did not breach the state’s voter registration system or obtain individual voter records. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said his office investigated the activity after Anthropic contacted the state earlier this month to raise concerns that its Claude model accessed information on the state’s public-facing data platform. The investigation found that the agent accessed only publicly available information and nothing in restricted election systems. A majority of K-12 schools and districts experienced a cybersecurity incident in the past year, with staffing shortages, budget constraints and gaps in artificial intelligence policies complicating efforts to protect school systems. According to a new report by the Center for Internet Security, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Consortium for School Networking, 34% of schools and districts said they experienced a cyber incident within the past year that affected day-to-day school operations — but only 66% dedicated cybersecurity staff. OpenAI is imploring California Gov. Gavin Newsom to strengthen the state’s landmark artificial intelligence safety law. In a letter, the companies’ Head of U.S. and Canada Policy and Partnerships Chan Park called for amendments to Senate Bill 53, California’s Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, including new requirements to monitor AI models during development, improve cybersecurity protections and report incidents involving unauthorized access to third-party systems. New episodes of StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast are posted each Wednesday. For more of the latest news and trends across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud or Spotify.
Oct 14

Inside Minnesota’s $40 Million bet on IT modernization

What does it take to modernize state government when legacy systems, limited budgets and competing priorities stand in the way? Minnesota is taking a different approach, using a $40 million Technology Modernization Fund to accelerate projects across state agencies. The initiative has earned national recognition from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers — but what makes the model work, and what can other states learn from it? This week we’re joined by Jon Eichten, the commissioner of Minnesota IT Services and state chief information officer, to explore those questions and more. Top stories this week: New York City has launched NYC Mental Health Connect, a website helping residents find mental health and substance use services from more than 600 providers. Users can search based on insurance, language, age and appointment availability, with options ranging from outpatient care and crisis services to housing and employment support. The platform received $5 million in one-time funding from New York state’s Office of Mental Health. The launch aims to address barriers to care, as a city report found that 24% of teens who wanted or needed mental health care did not know where to find it. Minnesota is facing potential Medicaid funding cuts as the Trump administration ramps up its fraud crackdown. CMS has deferred $550 million in state funding and threatened to withhold $2 billion annually. As Minnesota awaits a decision on the deferred payments, state officials are demanding transparency into the AI and data analytics tools the federal government used to flag health care providers as potentially high-risk. A new economic study estimates that eliminating the federal E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries pay for internet access, could cost the U.S. economy $4.2 billion annually. The study found that every dollar in federal support removed would reduce economic output by about $1.60, with losses also affecting wages and tax revenue. The findings come as the Federal Communications Commission reviews the program, and is in the process of gathering comments. New episodes of StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast are posted each Wednesday. For more of the latest news and trends across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud or Spotify.
Oct 7

The ever-changing role of State CIOs: a reporter's eye view

The everchanging role of State CIOs: a reporter's eye view Last episode, we heard directly from State Chief Information Officers who attended the annual National Association of State Chief Information Officers conference in San Diego last week. They shared their hopes and fears regarding artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, workforce development and the IT projects they’re undertaking. This week fellow StateScoop reporter Keely Quinlan, who attended the conference, joins us to talk about the looming DOJ digital accessibility deadline and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the widely held standards for IT modernization and what it means to be a State CIO. Top stories this week: A bicameral group of federal lawmakers on Monday introduced the Ban Flock Act, a bill that would block federal funding from state and local governments that use automatic license plate readers and prohibit the federal government from using them or the data they collect. The legislators — Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of N.Y., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon. — all Democrats, cited the proliferation of the technology across the country and widespread abuses by some law enforcement officers as reasons for writing the bill. A judge sentenced a Massachusetts man to two years in federal prison this week for his role in a multi-state conspiracy that used stolen identities to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Prosecutors said Raul Vicioso of Fitchburg, MA and three alleged co-conspirators, used personal information belonging to more than 100 people to create 24 fraudulent SNAP “households” in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, resulting in $440,000 in stolen SNAP benefits and more than $700,000 in fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds. The Vermont Community Broadband Board launched VT Speed Check on Tuesday, a new online tool that lets residents test how fast their broadband connections really are. On the site, Vermonters can find the speed test, a map that anonymously aggregates the results of all speed tests, and tools to help them learn more about their connection. State officials said the app aims to help residents navigate common problems that could result in slower internet speeds. New episodes of StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast are posted each Wednesday. For more of the latest news and trends across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud or Spotify.
Sep 30

Rapidfire Chats with State CIOs at NASCIO's 2026 annual conference

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers held its annual conference this week in San Diego, bringing together dozens of state technology leaders to discuss the most pressing IT challenges agencies across the country are facing, including modernization, cybersecurity and privacy, data infrastructure and of course artificial intelligence. Some CIOs were enthusiastic about the opportunities AI tools present for digital services and improved efficiency, others were more concerned about the privacy and data risks involved in using the emerging technology. Top stories this week: NASCIO released the results of its 2026 State CIO Survey on Monday, highlighting the growing pressures facing state technology leaders, with 68% anticipating increased turbulence and disruption to the role over the next five years. A central theme of the survey is the changing nature of the CIO role, as a majority of state technology leaders said they are navigating expanding responsibilities, rapid technological change and a modernization landscape that is increasingly difficult to keep pace with. States are turning to lidar, machine learning, satellite imagery and other digital tools to get a better handle on landslide risks as a new round of federal grants helps geological surveys build the data infrastructure needed to map hazards and better prepare for disasters. The U.S. Geological Survey awarded $1 million to 16 states, local and tribal governments — including Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Dakota and Alaska — this month for projects focused on landslide inventories, hazard mapping and risk reduction. Wyoming has opened a $7.5 million helibase at Casper-Natrona County International Airport this week, designed to speed up wildfire response while giving state firefighters better access to technology and communication infrastructure. The new facility, which won’t be fully operational until the state’s next fire season in June, brings together state forestry staff, wildland firefighters and federal partners at a centralized aviation hub. New episodes of StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast are posted each Wednesday. For more of the latest news and trends across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud or Spotify.
Sep 23

Developers, states or the federal government: who's really responsible for AI regulation?

Developers, states or the federal government: who's really responsible for AI regulation? Michael Pastor, New York Law School's Dean of Technology Law, discusses the intensifying debate for AI legislation and the urgency to regulate the rapidly advancing technology. He identifies the pros and cons of state regulation in the absence of federal regulation, and breaks down the real meaning behind what it means "stifle innovation." While AI as a technology is different than the advent of the internet or social media, Pastor said one thing is clear: we've been at this crossroads before. Top stories this week: After a monthslong investigation, Colorado officials have rescinded more than $100 million in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment funding after it received whistleblower complaints alleging an internet service provider engaged in “financial mismanagement and misuse of grant funds.” The Colorado Broadband Office said it froze BEAD funding to Maverix Broadband, Inc., an ISP that provides internet services across the state, after inquiries found payments for services and materials that were not received and unpaid vendors. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger is calling on Congress to establish federal guardrails for artificial intelligence, arguing that the technology’s rapid development is creating risks states cannot address on their own. In a letter sent to congressional leaders Tuesday, Spanberger cited concerns about data privacy, workforce displacement, cybersecurity and the large amounts of energy and other resources required to power AI systems. She argued that a national framework is needed rather than leaving oversight primarily to individual states or technology companies. Dru Rai, who has served as New York state chief information officer and director of the Office of Information Technology Services since 2023, has unexpectedly left the role. An ITS spokesperson declined to share details on Rai’s departure, saying the office doesn’t comment on “personnel issues.” Jenson Jacob, who has served as deputy CIO since Sept. 2025, has been named acting CIO. Rai was scheduled to give the welcome remarks at the New York Digital Government Summit 2026 Tuesday morning, but Jacob gave them instead. New episodes of StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast are posted each Wednesday. For more of the latest news and trends across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud or Spotify.
Sep 16

Can a city combat homelessness with improved data? San Jose's new shelter dashboard aims to find out

Can a city combat homelessness with improved data? San Jose's new shelter dashboard aims to find out Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose, California, discusses the city's new shelter system dashboard and how better data infrastructure could improve its response to homelessness. The new tool will track shelter use, length of stay, demographics, people housed, program exits and destinations, exits without notice and participant deaths. But even with the new dashboard, some city officials worry they cannot reliably determine whether people remain housed or sheltered 18 months after leaving its programs since post-exit information is split between city and Santa Clara county data systems. Top stories this week: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two pieces of legislation aimed at increasing government oversight of artificial intelligence tools. The first, creates a framework for independent verification organizations that can assess AI systems and models. The second, establishes a state registry for AI auditors and sets standards for their independence, transparency and integrity. A joint report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and General Dynamics Information Technology found that state governments are taking on a larger role in protecting critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, often without sustainable resources. The report highlights unreliable funding sources and the increased risks in connecting critical infrastructure systems to the internet as major concerns for state chief information officers. Indiana tapped John Stark, who has served as the state’s director of digital governance since August, to also serve as chief privacy officer. As the chief privacy officer, Stark will partner with state agencies to enable innovation and the adoption of emerging technologies while maintaining privacy as a core value — balancing the efficient and ethical use of data with the protection of Indiana residents’ privacy.
Sep 9

U.S. Digital Response’s roadmap for better government digital services

Keith Wilson, a talent engagement manager at the U.S. Digital Response, discusses the organization’s new Digital Service Toolkit and the evolution of digital service teams in state and local government. He highlights the challenges governments face in building the internal structures and talent needed to deliver effective digital services, as well as the role artificial intelligence could play in improving those efforts. Wilson emphasizes that AI should augment government teams and help employees deliver better services, rather than replace the people doing the work. Top stories this week: NASCIO has announced the finalists for its 2026 State IT Recognition Awards, highlighting technology projects from states across the country. The finalists included projects ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to digital services, data modernization and improving how states deliver services to residents. The winners will be announced at NASCIO’s annual conference at the end of September, but the list offers a snapshot of some of the state technology projects getting the most attention this year. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has finally clarified how states can use some of the roughly $21 billion left over from the federal BEAD broadband program. Under the new guidance, states can conduct another round of funding to connect locations that were missed in the initial process or have become newly eligible because of changes to federal broadband maps, provider defaults or other factors. But the guidance leaves one major question unanswered: how states will be able to use the remaining funds for non-deployment purposes like cybersecurity, digital literacy and workforce development. A new report from the American Statistical Association is calling for a major overhaul of the federal government’s education data infrastructure, with states playing a central role. The report recommends rebuilding the National Center for Education Statistics as a more modern, data-focused partner to states, with an emphasis on stronger data governance, interoperability and technical capacity. The push comes after NCES was dramatically downsized last year, and experts say restoring the agency’s ability to connect and standardize data across states will be critical to making that information more useful for policymakers, schools and families. New episodes of StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast are posted each Wednesday. For more of the latest news and trends across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud or Spotify.
Sep 2

The Magic of maps: the federal push to digitize mapping efforts in rural counties across the country

Luis Bettencourt, a professor at the University of Chicago, discusses the evolution and importance of rural mapping. He highlights the role of high-resolution satellite imagery, drone technology, and AI in enhancing mapping precision. Bettencourt emphasizes the significance of the Modernizing Access to Public Roads Act (MAPS Act) in digitizing rural records and creating standardized data sets for healthcare, emergency services, and infrastructure planning. He notes the need for human judgment in interpreting maps and the potential for improved local governance and service provision through accurate mapping. Top stories this week: The National Association of State Chief Information Officers is urging Congress to reauthorize the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, one of three federal priorities outlined in a letter sent Monday to House and Senate leaders. NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson said in the letter the three priorities were “critical to the ability of states to deliver secure, reliable and innovative technology services to the public.” The letter also called on Congress to reauthorize FirstNet and to preserve states’ authority to lead on responsible artificial intelligence governance. A group of eight state and local civil rights agencies is urging the federal government to preserve longstanding workforce demographic reporting requirements, arguing that eliminating the data could make it harder to identify and investigate employment discrimination. In a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, the agencies argue that the federal data provides a baseline for civil rights enforcement and that ending it will not end workplace discrimination. Nebraska plans to expand its use of artificial intelligence following a three-month pilot of Tyler Technologies’ Resident AI Assistant at the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. The Cornhusker State will deploy the AI assistant statewide, while its DMV will expand use of Tyler’s Document Automation platform to modernize motor carrier operations and compliance processes. New episodes of StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast are posted each Wednesday. For more of the latest news and trends across the state and local government technology community, subscribe to the Priorities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud or Spotify.

Each Wednesday, StateScoop’s Priorities Podcast explores the latest in state and local government technology news and analysis. Listen to in-depth conversations with government and industry’s top executives, and learn about trending stories affecting state and local IT leaders ranging from modernization and digital accessibility to the latest advances in generative artificial intelligence.

Creator

StateScoop
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

237
Rating

Clean
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