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Chandler Treon

Chandler Treon is an Austin-based staff writer. He has a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in literature and a master’s degree in technical communication, all from Texas State University.

  • What to Know:
    • The Texas Cyber Command was established through House Bill 150, signed into law in June following its designation as an emergency item by the governor earlier this year.
    • White most recently served as commander of the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. 10th Fleet.
    • According to the Texas Department of Information Resources, the Cyber Command represents a complete overhaul of the state’s cybersecurity strategy.
  • What to Know:
    • The court’s request for information outlines interest in systems that can automatically assign cases using historical case data.
    • Systems must operate in the Microsoft Azure Government Cloud and support secure, web-based access through the court’s infrastructure.
    • Systems must include safeguards to prevent overreliance on AI and comply with the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act.
  • Fair brings more than two decades of experience in IT and executive leadership, most recently serving as deputy city manager for the city of Goodyear, Ariz.
  • What to Know:
    • $2.2 million has been appropriated for FY 2026 through the city’s Technology Improvement Fund.
    • $7 million is earmarked for software and hardware maintenance.
    • $420,000 is budgeted for technology equipment purchases.
  • What to Know:
    • The agency is interested in support systems capable of managing a broad range of regulatory tasks.
    • Respondents are asked to describe how their system supports core business functions.
    • Respondents are also encouraged to describe professional services for implementation, data migration and support.
  • As part of Industry Insider — Texas’ ongoing efforts to educate readers on state and local government, their IT plans and initiatives, here’s the latest in our periodic series of interviews with departmental IT leaders.
  • What to Know:
    • The county’s Management Information Systems Department is slated to receive $2.7 million in operating funds.
    • Enterprise platforms make up a significant portion of the capital investment.
    • The new budget will take effect Oct. 1.
  • What to Know:
    • The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles received $125 million from the Legislature to initiate a full replacement of its registration and title system.
    • The Department of Family and Protective Services is developing a new Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System.
    • The Texas Workforce Commission is expanding its portfolio of AI and automation tools in use across the agency.
  • What to Know:
    • The agency seeks insights into tools that can help NTTA build a more comprehensive inventory of assets across its tollway network.
    • The agency currently uses AssetWorks as its computerized maintenance management system.
  • What to Know:
    • Texas CIO Amanda Crawford and Department of Information Resources Deputy Executive Director Steve Pier spoke at this year’s Industry Insider — Texas State of Technology forum.
    • The launch of Cyber Command marks a complete overhaul of the state’s cybersecurity efforts.
    • DIR is in the planning and pilot stages for two new contract options through the agency’s Shared Technology Services program.
  • What to Know:
    • The Department of Public Safety is exploring vendor options for a platform that can centralize and streamline the process of receiving transfer requests, tracking outcomes and more.
    • Currently, the transfer process is supported by a combination of Microsoft Outlook, Access and Excel.
    • DPS is also requesting budgetary estimates, cloud hosting details and certification status under TX-RAMP or FedRAMP as part of the RFI response.
  • What to Know:
    • The IT department supports operations and infrastructure, including staffing, maintenance and licensing.
    • Several city functions will implement new tools aimed at improving service delivery and operational efficiency.
    • The five-year Capital Improvement Plan allocates $16.1 million for technology through 2030.
  • What to Know:
    • The college’s goal is to replace manual processes with a unified tool that supports scalability and data-driven planning.
    • The software-as-a-service solution must support a wide range of event types.
    • In addition to booking and logistics, the software must provide reporting features and integrate with several existing platforms.
  • What to Know:
    • The state grant funding has been made available through the Texas Middle Mile Program.
    • Eligible applicants include political subdivisions of Texas as well as commercial and non-commercial entities that provide middle-mile broadband service.
    • Applicants may receive up to 100 percent of project costs if their proposal supports emergency warning or communications systems.
  • What to Know:
    • The approved budget includes $6.5 million for the IT department.
    • Temple continues to experience rapid growth, with its veteran population alone rising by 25-30 percent annually.
    • Temple is investing in customer-facing technologies such as digital registration platforms and online engagement tools.
  • What to Know:
    • The current DEMS manages about 350 terabytes of digital evidence and processes about 9,000 cases per year.
    • The county supports more than 49 law enforcement agencies and 650 defense attorneys.
    • The county will hold a series of virtual vendor demonstrations in mid-September.
  • What to Know:
    • The budget was approved early during an Aug. 14 City Council workshop.
    • The largest portion of the city’s technology spending falls under the Information Services and Telecommunications Department.
    • Beyond the IT department, several city agencies will also receive technology funding.
  • What to Know:
    • The approved 2026 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) includes $146 billion to be invested in Texas roadways.
    • The Austin District remains the largest beneficiary of technology-focused funding, receiving about $32 million.
    • Additional signal coordination projects totaling more than $2.2 million are planned for SH 71 in Travis County with earlier timelines between FY 2026 and 2029.
  • What to Know:
    • The city's FY 2025-26 budget includes $166 million for Austin Technology Services.
    • Program-level allocations include $92 million for core technology services and $12 million for information security.
    • The newly adopted budget takes effect at the beginning of the fiscal year on Oct. 1.
  • What to Know:
    • Bexar County Information Technology (BCIT) is slated to receive a $46 million budget.
    • The department is also due to receive $92 million in funding for 36 capital improvements programs.
    • Separately, the county’s Technology Improvement Fund allocates $6.5 million for computer-related equipment purchases across departments.
  • Her appointment marks a return to UT Austin, where she previously worked as a lead business analyst in the university’s IT division.
  • What to Know:
    • The city's IT Fund is proposed at $18 million.
    • The requested IT Department operating budget totals $17 million.
    • The Capital Improvement Plan includes a $10 million project.
  • What to Know:
    • Information and Technology Services allocations total $187 million in FY 2025-26 and $202 million in FY 2026-27, spanning data, 911 and radio operations.
    • Dallas Fire-Rescue and the Dallas Police Department together account for more than $74 million in public safety technology across dispatch, CAD/RMS and surveillance systems.
    • Dallas plans to expand artificial intelligence in 311 and procurement.
  • What to Know:
    • The award marks the first time a Texas higher education institution has received funding from the state program.
    • The funding will support the development of a 2,600-square-foot Austin Semiconductor Advanced Manufacturing Lab at ACC’s Round Rock Campus in East Williamson County.
    • The grant will also enable ACC to build a new welding fabrication skills lab in a renovated 3,728-square-foot space.
  • What to Know:
    • The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's digital licensing and tagging program will now cover all hunting, fishing and combination license types.
    • A mobile app enables hunters and anglers to purchase licenses online, carry them on a mobile device and tag harvests.
    • TPWD CIO Jamie McClanahan has identified the agency’s digital licensing systems as a key candidate for future modernization efforts.
  • What to Know:
    • The city's IT Services Department would receive $94 million.
    • The capital improvement program allocates an additional $32 million for citywide technology infrastructure projects.
    • Another $3 million is earmarked for department-level IT capital outlays.
  • What to Know:
    • A forthcoming request for offers will seek solutions that forecast and alert for flood events.
    • DIR’s notice comes as demands to expand the state’s flood alert infrastructure have grown in the wake of deadly flash flooding in July.
  • What to Know:
    • The city has proposed a $9.4 million Information Services and Telecommunications (IST) operating fund.
    • The IST Department has proposed $300,000 in new funding.
    • The Planning Department's proposed contractual services and supplies allocations total $1.2 million.
  • What to Know:
    • The city of Corpus Christi’s proposed $1.27 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025–26 includes about $40 million in technology-related funding.
    • $21 million is allocated to the city’s IT Fund.
    • Other allocations include $9 million for the MetroCom Fund and $159,000 for the Municipal Court Technology Fund.
  • What to Know:
    • The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is soliciting offers from vendors to provide traffic management software under a new statewide contract.
    • The software will need to integrate with TxDOT’s existing technology environment, offer compatibility for data exchange and provide capacity for future expansion.
    • TxDOT requires a detailed explanation of all artificial intelligence functionalities to be included or introduced at any point during the accepted contract period.