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.

  1. 3d ago

    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.

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

  2. 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.

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

  3. 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.

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

  4. 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.

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

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

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

  7. Aug 26

    How Pennsylvania is modernizing its evaluation of the state's senior care agencies

    Jason Kavulich, secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Aging, talks about the state's new Comprehensive Aging Performance Evaluation tool, or CAPE, which delivers upgrades to the agency's IT system. The tool represents a new statewide approach to modernizing how the state evaluates its 52 area agencies on aging — which are local organizations that helps older adults and adults with disabilities live independently and safely in their own homes. Kavulich says the tool improves accountability and agency use performance data to identify where agencies may need additional support. Top stories this week: Pennsylvania launched a new dashboard on Monday designed to make the state’s voter registration data easier for the public to access and track ahead of the November election. Using data from Pennsylvania’s Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors system, known as SURE, the dashboard provides visual representations of voter registration totals and changes. Police in New York State have repeatedly searched data gathered by license plate readers operated by other law enforcement agencies on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to a report published Tuesday by two civil rights groups. The report found that state and local police searched a license plate database, organized by the law enforcement technology firm Flock, and obscured the reasons for those searches in some cases. In response, Flock CEO Garrett Langley called for a “compromise” between privacy and safety. Texas Department of Information Resources tapped Amy Kelley, a tech official who has overseen state and city retirement systems in Texas, to serve as the agency’s new internal chief information officer, a role that includes leading the agency’s artificial intelligence division. 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.

    How Pennsylvania is modernizing its evaluation of the state's senior care agencies

  8. Aug 19

    Why does the federal government need expanded access to TANF data?

    A coalition of advocacy and privacy groups this month filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s effort to expand federal access to sensitive data collected through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Representatives from two groups involved with the lawsuit told the Priorities Podcast that the recent move violates federal privacy law. John Davisson, a deputy director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and Theo Oshiro, co-executive director of Make the Road States, said the new policy could put families’ personal information in the hands of immigration enforcement and introduce unneeded cybersecurity risks. Top stories this week: Months of backlash across social media and public forums over law enforcement’s use and misuse of automated license plate readers — particularly Flock Safety’s cameras and data-sharing network — have prompted scrutiny of how the technology is deployed and governed, forcing changes from industry. Flock has announced a series of changes to its policies, but the company says the most substantive changes must come from law enforcement and policymakers. The Administration for Children and Families is awarding $6 million to 10 child welfare jurisdictions to pilot predictive analytics tools designed to help caseworkers make faster, better informed decisions about children and families. The awards build on ACF’s broader “A Home for Every Child” initiative, which seeks to improve the ratio of foster homes to children. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a new initiative that would create AI cybersecurity officer roles within each state agency. The governor also directed all California agencies to establish an AI cyber defense program, which will use AI for the purposes of vulnerability detection, network hardening and incident response. 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.

    Why does the federal government need expanded access to TANF data?
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    StateScoop
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    235
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Priorities Podcast

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