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What to Know:
- The Texas Comptroller is seeking industry input on a digital payment system backed by gold or silver stored in the state’s bullion depository.
- The system must comply with constitutional limits on state-issued currency and may involve digital tokens or other technologies.
- The RFI requests input on system architecture, settlement workflows, regulatory compliance and public-private partnership models.
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What to Know:
- Laredo Police will implement a new 911 platform, Prepared 911, in early 2026 to route emergency call data and audio directly to responding officers.
- The system aims to reduce dispatch delays, improve officer safety and streamline response during high-call-volume periods.
- Residents reporting non-emergencies may be guided through automated prompts and offered secure online reporting options instead of waiting for an in-person response.
What to Know:
- The list targets AI firms, hardware makers and apps linked to the Chinese government and other foreign adversaries.
- Newly banned companies include AI developers such as SenseTime, iFLYTEK and Yitu, alongside major tech and hardware providers such as Alibaba, Baidu, TP-Link and DJI.
- Texas Cyber Command is now the lead agency for identifying and assessing tech threats, with enforcement support from DIR and the Department of Public Safety.
What to Know:
- United Independent School District will launch a virtual high school program, United ConnectEd, open to all Texas students in grades 9-12 beginning in 2026.
- The district is responding to declining enrollment and competition from private schools and vouchers by expanding Early College programs and promoting open enrollment.
- Online registration for the 2026-27 school year begins Feb. 2, with options for hybrid learning and extracurricular participation for local virtual students.
What to Know:
- Texas Tech University’s grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund will help build a nanotechnology cleanroom facility in Lubbock.
- The project supports advanced semiconductor research and hands-on workforce training through the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering.
- The award is part of a broader effort under the Texas CHIPS Act to expand semiconductor research and technician training statewide.
What to Know:
- The Texas Broadband Development Office awarded the funds to expand rural broadband and flood-monitoring infrastructure.
- The project will improve ISP access to LCRA’s fiber network, upgrade flood-monitoring sites and extend fiber into underserved Central Texas communities.
- This grant follows Texas’ $1.27 billion BEAD plan approval and supports dual goals of digital equity and public safety.
What to Know:
- Myers spent nearly 14 years at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
- He announced the move in a LinkedIn post, where he expressed gratitude for mentors and emphasized a continued commitment to public service.
- Myers joins DIR during a leadership transition, with Amanda Crawford appointed insurance commissioner and Tony Sauerhoff now serving as interim CIO.
What to Know:
- TxDOT’s 2026-2027 budget includes $394 million for IT modernization, cybersecurity and connected infrastructure.
- Capital funding supports facility upgrades and embedded tech to improve operations and data collection.
- Recent AI strategy shifts TxDOT from pilot projects to agencywide deployments in automation and analytics.
What to Know:
- Houston ISD will pilot two new K-8 schools focused on artificial intelligence and workforce readiness.
- Curriculum elements include AI tools, design thinking and real-world problem-solving experiences.
- The announcement comes amid broader discussions about school consolidation and declining enrollment, with Superintendent Mike Miles citing potential funding sources and partnerships to support innovation and reduce costs.
What to Know:
- TxDOT has completed more than a dozen AI projects and is actively developing more than 20 others, with 200-plus use cases identified.
- The updated plan aligns with new state law and introduces a formal scoring system to prioritize AI initiatives based on readiness, risk and impact.
- Key deployments include automated invoice processing, traffic incident detection and the rollout of generative AI tools to staff.
What to Know:
- AI training will be mandatory for state and local government employees starting in FY 2026 under House Bill 3512.
- DIR will certify at least five training programs that meet new criteria focused on responsible AI use, risk mitigation and accessibility.
- Submission guidance is expected by the end of January.
What to Know:
- Greenville City Council approved a six-year agreement with Motorola Solutions to launch a drone-as-first-responder program for the police department.
- The system enables drone pilots to deploy drones remotely to high-priority calls ahead of or alongside ground units.
- The program will follow Federal Aviation Administration regulations and departmental policies, with coordination efforts underway to ensure interoperability with Walmart’s existing drone delivery system.
Industry Insider — Texas 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.
What to Know:
- Texas HHS is requiring secure, accessible and interoperable technology solutions, with upfront compliance on cybersecurity and Section 508 accessibility standards.
- Vendors using AI must follow strict state guidelines, including bans on using HHS data for training and expectations to share cost efficiencies.
- HHS is in the early stages of a 10-year modernization plan and is preparing to request funding from the Legislature for upcoming projects.
What to Know:
- Sugar Land City Council approved $2.8 million for autonomous drones, real-time crime center software and expanded license plate recognition cameras.
- Axon Enterprises will provide two drones and FUSUS software subscription under a $594,000 contract.
- Flock Group’s LPR camera contract was amended to add two cameras and consolidate leases, raising the total contract value to $2.3 million.
What to Know:
- Greenville piloted a fully digital hiring process for its police department in 2025, receiving nearly 300 applications and filling 10 officer positions, including six with prior experience.
- The success of the pilot prompted a citywide rollout in October, with the human resources department receiving more than 500 applications and making 20 additional hires since.
- Officials say digital recruiting has significantly reduced hiring timelines and expanded applicant reach, helping the city fill roles that previously remained open for months.
What to Know:
- Sauerhoff previously served as DIR’s chief AI and innovation officer and was recently named president of the GovRAMP Board.
- He succeeds Amanda Crawford, who was named as head of the Texas Department of Insurance.
- Steve Pier, DIR’s deputy executive director, was recently appointed to lead the Texas Workforce Commission.
What to Know:
- DIR Deputy Executive Director Steve Pier has been appointed executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission.
- Pier's move comes amid broader leadership changes at DIR, including the departure of Executive Director Amanda Crawford.
- At DIR, Pier has played a key role in agencywide initiatives, including government relations, risk management and strategic planning.
What to Know:
- Texas DIR will no longer award cooperative contracts based on specific brands, focusing instead on solutions and specifications.
- The new model is intended to increase vendor competition, reduce brand lock-in and improve pricing for agencies.
- Vendors can still submit offers if their products meet the functional requirements outlined in future solicitations.
What to Know:
- Casey Kennedy, former CIO of the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA), has joined Mission Critical Partners as a project manager.
- He brings more than 30 years of IT and public-sector experience, including 15 years leading statewide judicial technology initiatives.
- Texas OCA has not named his replacement as of this writing.
What to Know:
- Texas Chief AI and Innovation Officer Tony Sauerhoff will become president of the GovRAMP Board, succeeding Arizona CIO J.R. Sloan.
- GovRAMP supports government data security and risk‑based decision-making, and the leadership change reflects efforts to expand its reach and collaboration across states.
- Sloan will continue his state IT leadership in Arizona and take on a new role as president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.
What to Know:
- Texas State Technical College will receive $3.5 million from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to expand its Accelerated Semiconductor Technician Training Program in Hutto.
- The program will prepare students for semiconductor fabrication careers in just 10 weeks, with training in wafer processing, gas control systems and cleanroom environments.
- This is the latest in a series of awards issued under the Texas CHIPS Act to grow the state’s semiconductor workforce and infrastructure.
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