News
Top Story
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has prioritized improving government operations. Columnist Daniel C. Kim, who helped roll out the state’s procurement portal, argues that now is the time to modernize that system.
News
What to Know:
- The California Employment Development Department is asking for $145.5 million in its budget change proposal to fund its ongoing EDDNext modernization efforts.
- The department is shifting its priorities within the case management portion of the project.
- More than $30 million of the larger pot will be used to pay vendors for their ongoing work.
The contract, which would run until February 2029, would be with Axon Enterprise Inc., the same vendor that provides the department’s body-worn cameras. It would include purchasing five drones of various capabilities.
State and city leaders call the $50 million contribution a turning point as plans take shape for housing, a hotel, performing arts space, and a dedicated AI center.
What to Know:
- The California Department of Social Services has requested $16 million and staffing to support a new Facility Management System (FMS).
- Of that $16 million, $13.5 million would be used for FMS contractors.
- The new system will reportedly replace eight legacy systems being used by the Community Care Licensing Division.
Two fast-growing artificial intelligence companies are nearing deals for more than 200,000 square feet in Showplace Square, reshaping the city’s post-pandemic recovery map.
The California Department of Technology has opened applications for its upcoming Project Management Leadership Academy. The 10-week course is open only to public-sector professionals.
The California Department of Transportation has named Vidhu Shekhar as its newest chief data and artificial intelligence officer. Shekhar comes from the private sector with a resume that lists Microsoft, KPMG and Workday as former employers.
The initiative’s advisory committee, including state CIO Liana Bailey-Crimmins, heard updates recently as the state’s massive fiber network nears some big milestones. Here’s where things stand.
What to Know:
- The California Environmental Protection Agency is requesting nearly $7 million for the second phase of its Environmental Reporting System.
- The 15-year-old, web-based system can no longer be updated to conform to evolving regulatory reporting needs.
- Phase two of the project will focus on change management, testing and training of newly procured software.
The Oakley Planning Commission has approved a 10-building, 164-acre industrial project in the northern part of the city, outlining special permitting requirements before any data centers could be housed there.
Steve Nash, an IT veteran with nearly 30 years in government, has made a return to the California Department of Child Support Services after more than a decade away.
What to Know:
- The California State Transportation Agency launched its Enterprise Portfolio Management Office in January 2024, but is now seeking funding and staff to make it permanent.
- The existing team is made up of staff on loan from other departments and is tasked with managing an IT portfolio worth more than $1.3 billion.
- The agency oversees eight transportation-related departments, including the departments of Transportation, Motor Vehicles and California Highway Patrol.
After flirting with the prospect of creating its own municipal utility, as frustrations with PG&E over reliability concerns escalated, San Jose and the energy giant hashed out their differences through a July deal that promised infrastructure and speed improvements.
The county is no stranger to recognition for its IT innovation, but now the leaders behind much of that work are passing the torch as they plan for retirement.
Here is our annual compilation of all IT-related budget change proposals from California state agencies, including a sortable and searchable table.
Johanna Hoadley has been tapped to serve as Marin County's first digital product manager. The role includes oversight of the county's myriad digital products and its future strategy.
The Employment Development Department's push to modernize is leaning heavily on customer feedback to shape the next steps. Officials shared the progress so far and talked near-term initiatives coming down the pipe.
The latest round of government innovators, known as the Governor’s Innovation Fellows, have been introduced as the second cohort kicks off. This year, there are 21 fellows representing 11 agencies and 13 departments.
Industry Insider — California will not be sending a morning newsletter on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The next newsletter will hit your inbox on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed budget is getting a concerned look from the Legislative Analyst's Office in a report that outlines deficit trends and over-reliance on what it called an "overheated" stock market for revenue.
The budget is out, as are the funding requests known as budget change proposals from the various agencies and departments. Here are a couple that caught our eye.
Contributed
Independent survey of 400 public sector leaders finds agencies recover costs within months while cutting insurance premiums, litigation exposure and administrative burden.
How Tek Yantra Delivers Practical, Scalable AI
A practical look at what leading teams are doing now — FinOps, continuous security, and AI governance — and how Tek Yantra helps reduce cloud waste, lower risk, and deliver faster.
Upcoming Events
Turning Responsible AI Principles into Real Government Outcomes
