State and Local
New Mexico unveils quantum telecom network
State officials have been positioning New Mexico as a leader in quantum sciences and technologies through private sector help and federal partnerships.
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Labor Department looks to pilot intaking unemployment claims for states
The effort follows the department’s notice that it may create a national claims database, a move critics say raises cybersecurity, privacy and surveillance risks.
Labor seeks to require confidential unemployment data from states
The Labor Department is considering creating a single, national claims database for unemployment compensation information.
AI moratorium could return despite removal from ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
Senators passed an amendment removing the provision that would have prevented states regulating the tech for 10 years. But some experts warn that a repeat effort is likely and could be successful.
Senate overwhelmingly passes amendment removing state AI moratorium
After attempting to negotiate a shorter moratorium timeframe, a bipartisan team of senators succeeded in striking the provision that would have prevented states from enforcing AI regulations from the Big Beautiful Bill.
Senate reconciliation bill text tweaks state AI regulation ban
The Senate Commerce Committee would block some funding from states that want to regulate the technology. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers have said any moratorium should be dropped altogether.
Labor cancels unemployment modernization grants for states
The grant dollars — which the agency has been doling out since Congress allocated funding for fraud and access work in 2021 — don’t align with department priorities anymore, Labor says.
Proposed moratorium on state-level AI regs aims to level the playing field, lawmaker says
Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick, a GOP member of last Congress’ House AI Task Force, spoke on Wednesday night about the need to avoid a jumble of different rules of the road for AI developers.
IRS announces 13 states where taxpayers could use its Direct File pilot
The agency has yet to commit to a long-term product for the in-house filing tool.
IRS seeks states’ input on its direct file pilot
States have until Sept. 4 to tell the IRS if they’re interested in participating.
Budget and tech challenges loom over IRS's direct file pilot
The news of the forthcoming pilot was followed this week by a compromise debt ceiling bill that includes reallocating $20 billion of the funding the IRS got as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Trust Will Be Key for US Notify—a Federal Text Message Service for State Benefits
The text service will be the first project to come out of the General Services Administration’s new Public Benefits Studio.
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Energy Sets Aside $550 Million for State and Local Clean Energy Efforts
The money is available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Public Entities in Nearly Every State Use Federally-Banned Foreign Tech, Report Says
A new report from Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology found that at least 1,681 state and local governments purchased equipment from five Chinese companies that were banned by the federal government between 2015 and 2021.
White House Announces $1B in Cyber Funding for State and Local Governments
The four-year grant program, included in last year’s infrastructure law, will help states and local communities “strengthen their cyber resilience.”
White House Looks to Government and Community Data Collaboration to Promote Equity
The public has until Oct. 3 to comment on several questions related to this endeavor.
Legislation Promoting Cyber Collaboration Between DHS and States Awaits Biden Signature
The legislation would improve information sharing between federal cybersecurity authorities and state and local governments.
New cybersecurity bill authorizes DHS to ramp up incident response efforts nationwide
The National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act gives the Department of Homeland Security a range of opportunities to bolster cybersecurity preparedness at the state and local level, including and technical assistance services.
Infrastructure Law’s Digital Equity Goals Are Key to Smart Cities that Work for Everyone
Smart cities promise a shining future, but without deliberate efforts to include underserved communities they can worsen the digital divide.
GAO: Better Data Collection Can Improve Homelessness Estimates
Auditors suggest the Housing and Urban Development Department can improve its homeless estimates by gathering better data at the local level.
