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What to Know:
- The Texas Department of Public Safety secured about $3.2 million in federal funding for drone detection and mitigation technology ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- The technology is intended to monitor airspace around major venues, critical infrastructure and restricted areas in Dallas, Houston and other large-event settings.
- The system will support stationary and mobile deployment, real-time tracking and mitigation of unauthorized drones under federal law and oversight.
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What to Know:
- Ramsey previously served as CIO for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness in California.
- Ramsey assumes the role following former CIO Craig Hopkins' retirement.
What to Know:
- More than 12.3 million Texans now have Texas by Texas accounts.
- The platform has facilitated more than 29.6 million transactions and is adding about 7,000 new users per day.
- Planned updates this year include expanded access for out-of-state users, barcode scanning during sign-up, faster service integration and improved digital accessibility.
What to Know:
- Robots are collecting sidewalk and pedestrian accessibility data across about 45 miles of priority corridors in Midland.
- The assessment began April 27 through a partnership among the Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization, Kimley-Horn and Daxbot.
- The project will document sidewalk conditions, public right-of-way assets and barriers to accessibility.
What to Know:
- TxDMV awarded Guidehouse a $9.94 million cooperative contract, just under the $10 million cap for cooperative contracts.
- The advisory work appears tied to the agency’s $125 million Registration and Title System replacement.
- Guidehouse provides advisory, technology and managed services but is not identified as the core replacement vendor.
What to Know:
- Austin City Council did not vote May 7 on a resolution that would have paused parts of the One ATS initiative.
- The item was withdrawn before public comment or council action.
- With the withdrawal, the council has not formally paused employee transfers or departmental reorganizations tied to the IT consolidation plan.
Officially named to his post leading Texas IT in March, Tony Sauerhoff outlines his approach to leadership and weighs in on some of the biggest challenges before him as state CIO.
What to Know:
- Chris Boone became Beaumont city manager in May after serving as assistant city manager.
- Boone has identified public safety, infrastructure, financial stability, customer service, economic development and quality of life as priorities.
- His technology-related goal includes replacing Beaumont’s antiquated, 1980s-era computer system, which he said affects data analysis, reporting and the city’s ability to identify inefficiencies.
What to Know:
- Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD voters approved $9.1 million in bond funding for student and staff technology devices.
- Proposition C passed with 69 percent support, the highest approval rate among the district’s three bond propositions.
- The funding is designated for replacement devices, including computers, iPads and Chromebooks.
What to Know:
- City councilmembers are considering a resolution that would pause employee transfers and reorganizations tied to the city’s “One ATS” consolidation plan.
- Austin has adopted new rules requiring City Council approval before city departments acquire or deploy surveillance-related technology.
- The actions follow months of debate around park surveillance, automated license plate readers and the city’s plan to centralize technology staff under Austin Technology Services.
What to Know:
- UT Medical Branch has named Jayson Laban vice president and chief information officer, effective May 1.
- Laban had served as interim vice president and CIO since Jan. 1.
- He brings more than 24 years of IT leadership experience, including more than six years at UTMB.
What to Know:
- UTA received $4 million from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office to develop a real-time flood warning system for the Hill Country.
- The project will use weather monitoring, flood modeling and floodplain maps to improve warning times.
- UTA is partnering with Rice University to build the warning platform.
What to Know:
- Montgomery County adopted the state-required artificial intelligence ethics framework and named IT Director Bobby Powell as its AI risk management official for now.
- Vendors doing AI-related business with the county, or providing data built with AI, will need to comply with state standards that Powell said must be built into contracts.
- County officials said the mandate is unfunded, likely to require a full-time role and still needs local policy details that will come back to commissioners later.
What to Know:
- TCOLE is hiring a data management officer to lead enterprise data governance, data quality and business intelligence efforts.
- The role includes developing a data governance road map, managing data asset catalogs and overseeing data warehouse and data mart design.
- Applicants need a related bachelor’s degree and at least six years of data-focused experience in a regulated industry or government environment.
What to Know:
- Anh Selissen of TxDOT was recognized for advancing AI use cases tied to agency operations, including automation and traffic incident detection.
- Jorge Cardenas was recognized for Brownsville’s broadband expansion, digital inclusion work and smart city infrastructure.
- Lin Zhou of Texas Tech was recognized for improving IT project delivery and building the university’s AI and quantum computing work.
What to Know:
- ETCOG selected Civic Marketplace as the technology platform for COGWORKS, its cooperative purchasing program for local governments.
- The program provides competitively bid, multi-award discount bids through interlocal agreements at no cost to participating entities.
- Awarded vendors deal directly with participating members for purchases and payments.
John Carter, who has led IT for the county since 2023, discusses justice system modernization, cloud adoption and how AI and infrastructure investments are shaping technology priorities.
What to Know:
- Brownsville received nearly $22 million from the Texas Middle Mile Program to expand its broadband fiber network by an estimated 138 miles.
- The project is expected to benefit about 50,000 residents across Brownsville and nearby communities.
- The grant builds on Brownsville’s broader technology strategy, including municipal fiber, private 5G, smart city systems and its AI Factory.
What to Know:
- West Lake Hills is advancing an AI traffic signal initiative for the Bee Cave Road corridor after council discussion and support for related budget amendments.
- City officials put the cost at $360,000 and said about $300,000 in ad valorem tax revenue proceeds could help fund the work.
- Public records tie NoTraffic and Texas Highway Products to the project, though officials said the final vendor arrangement could still change.
What to Know:
- Conroe police have launched a drone-first-response program using two Axon Air drones and two docking stations.
- City Council approved the $230,000 purchase in December using Federal Justice Seized Assets funds.
- The department’s drone policy requires FAA Part 107-licensed operators, ties flights to dispatch records and bars random surveillance.
What to Know:
- HHSC is rolling out SEMARC, a cross-agency reportable conduct search tool, and backing it up with rule changes across multiple programs.
- The agency is moving WIC benefits to a cloud-based system, with new cards, real-time benefit updates and continued expansion of the myWIC app.
- HHSC is continuing work on interoperability and oversight through the ATLIS health information exchange effort and tighter electronic visit verification controls.
What to Know:
- Arlington and Dallas are using an AI traffic system called NoTraffic AI to help manage intersections ahead of the World Cup.
- The system uses radar and live video to detect vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians so cities can adjust signal timing and reduce congestion.
- Arlington has already adopted the technology and plans to expand its use this summer, while Dallas is testing it at two locations before deciding on broader deployment.
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