Category Archives: Government

New MN Bill: to establish a steering committee that would provide recommendations on current human services IT HF4675

Posted on by
Reply

Last week, the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, heard about HF4675 to establish a steering committee that would provide recommendations on current human services IT systems and the development of new ones…

Counties have long lamented outdated “Oregon Trail”-era IT systems used to enroll Minnesotans in Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Women Infants and Children, and other public assistance programs. Soon, President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” will introduce increased complexity to these systems and legislators have said the status quo can’t accommodate that.

In addition to remedies proposed by Gov. Tim Walz and other legislators throughout the session, Rep. Danny Nadeau (R-Rogers) has a proposal to kickstart upgrades and modernizations.

He sponsors HF4675 to establish a steering committee that would provide recommendations on current human services IT systems and the development of new ones. The bill would also appropriate an undetermined amount of money in Fiscal Year 2027 to update county IT systems.

The committee laid the bill over.

Counties currently use two systems to process claims: MAXIS, launched in 1989, and METS, established in 2014.

Testifiers said both systems have issues.

The history of 911 in Minnesota from a 911 telecommunicator

Posted on by
Reply

The Department of Public Safety reports on changes to 911 over the years. I just thought it was an interesting look at how 911 has changed over the years, especially for folks who have ubiquitous and reliable cell coverage…

For Mark Lallak, the evolution of 911 is personal. He watched it happen in real time from behind the dispatch console.

When Lallak was working as a 911 telecommunicator in the ’90s, most calls came from landlines. Because the phone numbers were associated with fixed locations, dispatchers had a name and address associated with each phone number. If someone called in, first responders almost always knew where they needed to go.

Then as cell phones emerged, everything changed.

The update happened quickly…

Today, wireless calls are the new norm. In 2025, about 87 percent of 911 calls in Minnesota came from cell phones. People call from cars, boats, trails and countless other places where emergencies happen. It’s much easier to call 911 today than ever before — and that flexibility is a good thing. But it also created new challenges for dispatchers and first responders.

In the early days of cell phone calls to 911, dispatch centers often had to rely on cell tower triangulation to estimate a caller’s location. Dispatchers can’t identify someone based on a cell phone number like they could with landlines. If a caller could not speak, hung up or lost connection, responders might have to search a broad area, often as big as a square mile or more.  …

“Nowadays, when a caller dials 911, the latitude and longitude coordinates from their cell phone are usually shared with the system,” Carlson said. “That information can help responders get to the right place faster.”

While this process works better today than before, there is room for improvement. In some parts of greater Minnesota, calls may still be routed based on cell tower triangulation instead of a caller’s GPS coordinates. That can lead to delays or extra transfers, especially near county borders.

ECN is working to improve the 911 system through Next Generation 911, or NG911. The current network in Minnesota has been in place since 1982 and relies on outdated copper telecommunication lines. In partnership with telecom service providers across the state, ECN is upgrading the network to fiber optic cable. The upgraded system will allow callers to text photos and videos and even share data from unexpected sources like smartwatches and vehicles.

New MN Bill: establishing an information technology modernization account HF4808

Posted on by
Reply

The MN House reports on a legislation that would allow for surplus funds to be spent on upgrading government IT…

Torkelson introduced:

HF. 4808,A bill for an act relating to state government; establishing an information technology modernization account; allocating general fund surplus dollars to the account; requiring a report; transferring money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16A.152, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16A.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

You can access the full bill – but here’s a key paragraph…

new text begin[16A.627] TECHNOLOGY OBSOLESCENCE REDUCTION KEYSTONE
ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text beginThe technology obsolescence reduction keystone account is established in the special revenue fund. Money in the account is available for appropriation by the legislature to fund the modernization or replacement of outdated or inadequate information technology infrastructure and systems used by the state or local units of government to administer state
programs.

How is social media use linked to views of democracy?

Posted on by
Reply

A recent Gallup report looks at the connection between social media and views of democracy…

Heavy users of social media are more likely than others to believe that leaders are listening to them and to view democratic participation as effective, according to a study conducted by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and Gallup. However, they are also less likely to think democracy is the best form of government and more likely to express views that depart from widely held democratic norms about violence and political compromise.

These results are from a nationally representative study of more than 20,000 U.S. adults, conducted July 7-Aug. 25, 2025, that finds complex relationships between social media usage and views of U.S. democracy, even when controlling for age, income and other factors related to social media use.

They made a few observations:

  • Heavy Social Media Users More Likely to Feel Valued and Represented
  • Social Media Use Tied to Belief in Effectiveness of Participation
  • Social Media Users More Critical of Democracy as a Form of Government
  • Heavy Social Media Users Stray From Democratic Norms

They conclude…

These results suggest that social media may reinforce public beliefs that citizens’ voices matter and their actions can shape the nation’s direction. Heavier users, in particular, express stronger feelings of being represented in government decision-making and more confidence in the effectiveness of core civic actions, from peaceful protests to political campaigning.

Yet this greater sense of empowerment exists alongside signs that heavy social media use is associated with lessened support for foundational democratic principles and even the belief that democracy is the best form of government. Taken together, these findings suggest that social media use may play an increasingly complex role in the health of U.S. democracy.

New MN Bill: Open Meeting Law; meeting broadcasting through social media authorized HF3295

Posted on by
Reply

Bill to be discussed today (March 23) in the House Elections Finance and Government Operations…

HF3295 (Gordon) – Open Meeting Law; meeting broadcasting through social media authorized.

Press Conference: MN Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Regulate Artificial Intelligence

Posted on by
Reply

Earlier today, Senator Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley, legislators, and supporters held a press conference to introduce bills intended to regulate artificial intelligence for consumer protection and public safety. It’s a great peek at what might be happening later today and for the rest of the session. Reporters asked questions that many of us might ask – such as what does that mean in the real world.

Here are some of the sessions that will be happening today. You can watch in real time or view the archive later:

S.F. 1120 Maye QuadeGovernment entities prohibition from requesting or obtaining reverse-location information

scs1120a-1.pdf

ACLU-MN-Letter-of-Support-Reverse-Warrants-SF-1120.pdf

BCA-Opposition-to-SF1120-3-5-26-Signed-3-5-26.pdf

ILCM-SF1120-Pro.pdf

MCPA-_SF1120_Letter-of-Opposition.pdf

Reverse-Warrant-Flyer-SF-1120.pdf

20260302134430681_25-112-Google-Chatrie-Amicusfinal.pdf

S.F. 1856 Maye QuadeUsage of artificial intelligence in the utilization review process prohibition provision

scs1856a-1.pdf

S.F. 1857 Maye QuadeMinor access to chatbots for recreational purposes by persons prohibition provision

scs1857a-2.pdf

MFC-SF1857-Pro-Senate-Judiciary-and-Public-Safety-Committee-03092026.pdf

S.F. 1886 Maye QuadeIndividual communication with artificial intelligence disclosure requirement provision

RMAI-Memorandum-in-Opposition-to-SF1886-03-09-2026.pdf

S.F. 3098 Maye QuadeProhibition from using artificial intelligence to dynamically set product prices

scs3098a-1.pdf

MN for Open Government AI Regulation Presentation

MN_for_Open_Government_AI_regulation_presentation.pdf

Worth sharing: That text or email about your “tax refund” is a scam

Posted on by
Reply

I suspect that most readers are savvy about how technology can be used to scam folks, but a reminder never hurt and we all might know someone who could also use a reminder – or lesson. Here’s help from the FTC…

Tax season is approaching, and if you’re getting a refund, scammers are looking to steal it before you’ve had a chance to claim it. So, before you respond to a text or email about a “tax refund” — especially one that asks you to click a link — know that this could be a scam designed to get your personal information and steal your tax refund.

These scams often start with a text or email that looks like it’s from the IRS or a state tax office saying they’ve “processed” or “approved” your tax refund claim. (Note: that’s not how you find out about a real tax refund.) To “verify your identity” and “send you money,” they ask you to click a link to enter details like your Social Security and bank account numbers — but it’s a phishing scam. If you click and share your info, the scammer might steal your personal information to get your tax refund or even steal your identity to open other accounts.

If you get a message like this:

  • Know that the real IRS and state tax offices won’t reach out by text, email, or on social media to get your information. Only scammers will.
  • Don’t respond or click any links. To check the status of a pending tax refund, never use the link from the message. Instead, visit USA.gov to learn how to find out if you’re really getting a federal or state tax refund.
  • Report and delete the message. Use your phone’s “report junk” option or forward unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM) and mark unwanted emails as spam or junk. Once you’ve checked it out and reported it, delete the message.

Visit IdentityTheft.gov/steps to learn how to protect yourself before identity theft happens. And if you spot a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

MN Broadband Task Force meeting Feb 2026: Rural Health Research and Technologist Computers

Posted on by
Reply

The Broadband Task Force met today. Their stated goal is to focus on education in the first few months of the year. Today they heard from folks at the Mayo on rural health research and from a Task Force member Ini Augustine who does digital equity work in Hennepin County through Technologist Computers. They also got an update from the Office of Broadband Development.

Meeting Agenda Continue reading →

Gov. Tim Walz has authorized $1.2 million to Aid St. Paul Cyber Attack Recovery

Posted on by
Reply

Gov Tech reports...

Gov. Tim Walz has authorized $1.2 million in state emergency disaster assistance to address a cybersecurity incident that disrupted digital services in St. Paul for several weeks this summer. While most public-facing, Internet-based services were back online within a month, some behind-the-scenes work to shift, recreate or safeguard digital services remains ongoing.

Details on the event…

On July 29, a cyber attack forced the city of St. Paul to shutter most Internet-based services, from public computer terminals at libraries to bill payment services and phone communications. In response, Walz issued an executive order activating cyber-security specialists from the Minnesota National Guard, and the FBI and private consultants quickly became involved.

With a demanded ransom unpaid, cyber-attackers eventually released data from personal files held by St. Paul Parks and Recreation workers onto the Internet, but the files did not involve information from core systems like payroll or licensing, according to the mayor’s office at the time.
A tally of actual costs related to the cyber attack was not immediately available on Wednesday evening, but the 2026 city budget includes more than $1 million in added cybersecurity funding to restore systems and further safeguard digital services.

AI Governance Checklist for Elected Officials from The Center for Democracy and Technology

Posted on by
Reply

I love a good checklist. Even if you may never need the checklist, I think looking over it gives you a good idea of how something works and what’s involved. The Center for Democracy and Technology has created a check list for AI use in government…

This brief provides elected officials and senior leaders working in state and local government with a checklist of core recommendations specifically aimed at building government-wide structures, strategies, and processes to advance trustworthy and responsible use of AI in public benefits and services across five core areas:

  • Public Transparency and Stakeholder Engagement: Improve public awareness and understanding of AI by establishing public AI inventories, prioritizing public education about government use of AI, creating advisory councils with members of the public to inform agency AI decision-making, implementing mechanisms for meaningful feedback from the public, and instituting plain-language notices and explanations for affected individuals.
  • Accuracy and Reliability: Ensure that AI projects advance agency goals and combat AI-driven challenges by adopting acceptable AI use policies or guidelines, grounding the acquisition and use of AI tools in evidence-based decision-making, establishing minimum government-wide AI performance and testing standards and procurement criteria, implementing regular independent audits of AI tools (including post-deployment), building in requirements for human oversight and training, and prioritizing investment in AI talent.
  • Governance and Coordination: Promote cross-agency governance practices by adopting a government-wide AI plan and governance strategy, appointing a chief AI officer or equivalent senior leader, creating AI governance boards, establishing centralized emergency response protocols and AI incident reporting, engaging cross-functional staff in AI decision-making, establishing forums for government employees to provide input on AI projects, and incorporating responsible AI guidance into existing employee training and onboarding materials.
  • Privacy and Security: Identify and mitigate AI-related privacy and security harms by updating cybersecurity and data policies; establishing privacy and security protections in AI procurement; integrating chief privacy, information security, and data officers throughout AI decision-making; and prioritizing privacy and cybersecurity in employee AI training.
  • Safety, Rights, and Legal Compliance: Address the risks that AI systems may pose to the public’s safety and rights by integrating civil rights, risk, and legal officers throughout AI decision-making; establishing heightened risk management requirements for high-impact uses; and prioritizing legal compliance and identification and mitigation of AI harms in employee AI training.

Take time for an important story: When big cyberattacks hit small towns

Posted on by
Reply

Big thanks to Ben Winchester for the heads up on this one. Click Here is a podcast that “tells stories about the people making and breaking our digital world.” Last week, they focused on When big cyberattacks hit small towns. It’s a quick 30-minute broadcast. It tells a sobering story of cyber security challenges in rural areas. I won’t retell the story, but I will share the messages that resonated with me:

  • While big cities often have cyber security teams or people or at least an IT department, smaller cities, towns and counties don’t. That means that cyber security in smaller governments is left to no one or everyone, the results can be the same.
  • Back in the day, everyone had a different security solution. It’s more homogenous now; even between small and large local governments. So, a cyber criminal can learn a lot about “how things are done” even in hacking a small town.
  • Unlike having your car or wallet stolen, a cyber crime is hard to recognize. You don’t always know what a thief got, how they got in or if they have been locked out. You don’t always know who did it or why.

Legislative Commission on Data Practices talk about data privacy, retention, health apps and automated license plate readers

Posted on by
Reply

Today, I listened to the Legislative Commission on Data Practices meeting. It felt a little broadband-adjacent at first but the more I listened, the more interested I became. At the root of the discussions is the recognition that the laws are often not keeping up with the technology. Here’s the agenda for the meeting:

  1. Approval of October 15, 2025, Minutes
  2. Modern data privacy best practices around data minimization, retention, and maintenance
  3. Current challenges with data retention
  4. Treatment of geolocation data
  5. Intersection of HIPAA/HITEC, the MN Health Records Act, and the MN Consumer Data Privacy Act
  6. ALPR and Body Camera reporting requirements
  7. Data privacy as it relates to the interplay of state and federal government
  8. Adjourn

I was least focused on data retention portion, but my ears perked up when someone noted that many of the policies in place were written in the 1980s. That’s back when the retained “while you were out” messages left on your desk for a missed call. That helps ground the further conversation to realize that the government is trying to manage privacy and “customer” expectations using technology from 2025 and rules from 1985. And even the legislators talk about having one set of expectations for their personal privacy while wanting to use personal data to improve government processes. It’s a delicate balance.

The discussion included mention of a proposed law on health apps and easier access for parents to help manage kids’ health records, rethinking access to geolocation with an eye toward people using reverse warrants to overzealously observe residents and learning about unintended uses of automated license plate readers.

EVENT Nov 18-20 GovIT Leadership Summit & Symposium at the Mall of America

Posted on by
Reply

From the planners...

Bringing Together Government IT Leaders, Innovators, and Visionaries to Promote Transformative Change!

The GOVIT Leadership Summit & Symposium, produced and hosted by the Public Technology Institute, is the can’t miss event for all government IT across the nation. Join us this fall to see where the future of government IT is going!

This Year’s Theme is Navigating Change in Uncertain Times: Let’s Solve Today’s Challenges—Together!

EVENT Nov 13: Let’s Talk About Data Centers and Water Usage in Duluth

Posted on by
Reply

This looks like an interesting meeting from Minnesota Women’s Press…

Thursday, November 13, 2025 6:30 PM –  8:30 PM CT

Zeitgeist Zinema 1, 222 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802

Join us for an in-person viewing of a powerful conversation featuring CURE’s Sarah Mooradian, who will speak on the growing water demands of data centers—why it matters, how it affects rural and urban communities, and what we can do to ensure a more equitable and sustainable future. Don’t miss this critical conversation on technology, water, and justice. Come learn, connect, and be part of the change. Free and open to the public.

 

Government shutdown disrupts telehealth at Winona Health

Posted on by
Reply

WXOW reports…

The federal government shutdown is creating new challenges for Winona Health patients who rely on telehealth.

Winona Health officials say the number of people affected is small, but Medicare patients are feeling the change. Some visits that had been conducted virtually must now happen in person.

Hospice care is also impacted. Certain recertification visits that were allowed over telehealth will now require face-to-face appointments.

Administrators say they expect telehealth options to return once Congress resolves the budget impasse.