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What to Know:
- The upcoming solicitation will cover cybersecurity software, services and related support.
- DIR plans to award one or more vendors under indefinite quantity contracts with no purchase minimums.
- The deadline for vendor responses is expected to be Feb. 2, 2026.
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What to Know:
- On Thursday, CLEAR will introduce its biometric eGates at Love Field TSA security checkpoints.
- The service allows fliers to bypass a TSA Security podium or traditional CLEAR pod.
- The eGates are similar to biometric technology TSA has rolled out at regular security lanes in recent years.
What to Know:
- Casey Kennedy will retire from the public sector in November after 15 years as CIO.
- In a LinkedIn post, Kennedy thanked colleagues and mentors, reflected on his time in the role and said he is open to new opportunities.
- The agency has opened applications for his successor, who will serve as CIO, director of information services and information resource manager for the state judiciary.
What to Know:
- Corpus Christi's IT fund includes about $23 million in FY26.
- The city has dedicated about $7 million through its capital program for technology-focused initiatives.
- The budget also sets aside about $21 million for construction projects with embedded technology components.
With the largest IT capital budget in the state, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is planning major procurements for video surveillance, application support and more.
What to Know:
- As the central IT agency, DIR oversees statewide procurement vehicles, cybersecurity programs, data center services and cloud offerings.
- For Fiscal Year 2026, DIR has received $9.3 million for IT capital items and operates under a total budget of $779 million.
- DIR is shifting its focus from cybersecurity toward its Innovation Lab and new AI Division.
Two local government IT leaders spoke in Dallas about what they are seeing on the AI front in North Texas and beyond. Deployments require buy-in, training and written policy.
Local cybersecurity leaders recently discussed various components of their incident response planning, including regular reviews, cross-team involvement and communication within and without the security office.
What to Know:
- The county’s Technology and Operations department is allocated $91.4 million.
- Several departments are investing in targeted software, hardware and digital platforms.
- Technology funding also extends into departmental programs.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice recently briefed its board on a portfolio of major IT projects, most of which are funded by the state’s capital budget and in early procurement stages.
What to Know:
- TxDOT oversees planning and operations across highways, bridges, aviation and rail.
- The department’s $203 million IT capital budget includes funding for cybersecurity, modernization, data initiatives and infrastructure-related technologies.
- The department’s FY 2025–29 strategic plan prioritizes automation, data integration and digital modernization.
What to Know:
- HHSC supports operations for programs such as Medicaid, SNAP and WIC, and also oversees the Department of State Health Services.
- With $1.1 billion allocated for technology-related initiatives, the agency’s funding spans major modernization efforts.
- HHSC is focused on expanding artificial intelligence use, defending against cybersecurity threats and improving its data-driven decision-making.
What to Know:
- The county’s Universal Services department is set to receive $141 million in base funding.
- A separate $11 million allocation will fund long-term capital investments.
- Public Safety Technology Services is budgeted at $24 million.
What to Know:
- Texans can now upgrade driver’s licenses and renew boat registrations through the TxT digital assistant platform.
- More than 10.8 million users have created TxT accounts since the platform’s public launch in 2022.
- TxT is a joint effort by DIR and multiple state agencies, with services developed in partnership with DPS and TPWD and operated by Deloitte.
Kelley brings more than 20 years of IT experience to the role, spanning infrastructure operations, enterprise services and technical project management.
What to Know:
- Tony Sauerhoff has been appointed chief AI and innovation officer at the Department of Information Resources.
- He'll be tasked with leading the agency's forthcoming AI Division.
- He previously served as Texas’ chief information security officer. DIR's cyber functions are moving to the new Texas Cyber Command.
What to Know:
- The city of Sugar Land experienced a cyber incident on Oct. 9 affecting internal systems.
- Emergency services remain operational; utility disconnections and late fees are temporarily suspended.
- The city is investigating with law enforcement and providing updates via its website and official channels.
The CDO will report to executive leadership and oversee the development of enterprise data architecture, policies and procedures that support data quality, integrity and security.
What to Know:
- Texas Cyber Command (TXCC) is hiring two cybersecurity analysts to support threat research and incident response as part of its statewide cyber modernization push.
- Both roles are housed within the Office of the State CISO, with responsibilities that include developing detection tools, analyzing threats and building incident response capacity.
- Successful applicants will help stand up the statewide Cybersecurity Incident Response Team under TXCC by 2026.
What to Know:
- The Texas Comptroller is seeking input on mass email platforms for accessible constituent outreach.
- The platform should support features like responsive design, email authentication, analytics and role-based access.
- Requested features include A/B testing, email previews, personalization, accessibility compliance and data retention support.
Industry Insider — Texas is pleased to welcome Optimum to the Industry Insider family.
What to Know:
- The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program will allow eligible families to apply for state funds to cover a range of educational expenses.
- Odyssey will provide an end-to-end platform to manage the program, including a parent-facing application portal, e-commerce marketplace and customer support services.
- Odyssey’s CEO, Joseph Connor, said the company is prepared to deploy a “user-friendly and trustworthy platform” based on its experience managing similar programs in other states.
Contributed Content
Agentic AI is expanding identity security risk. Here’s how to adopt it without opening new pathways for attackers.
This report sounds the alarm on fraud in government programs. The message is clear: Fraudsters are attacking government programs with relentless speed, using stolen and fake identities, across state borders and within agencies, often driven by complex crime networks that are difficult to entirely track down and stop.
A new wave of employment fraud is targeting U.S. companies, with fake candidates using AI-enhanced resumes and stolen identities to infiltrate organizations. Socure uncovers how these sophisticated schemes, often linked to foreign operatives, pose significant security risks and highlights the urgent need for advanced identity verification in hiring processes.
Upcoming Events
Ransomware attacks surged 50% in early 2025 and impacts all organizations regardless of size or industry.
Featured Speakers: Mat Keller, Sr. Solutions Engineer, Okta, and Neal Gallucci, Sr. Manager - Identity Solutions Architect, Socure
