“States are rapidly adopting GenAI and exploring agentic AI, while CIOs stress the need for broad federal guidance on ethics rather than prescriptive regulations,” summarized the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. The 2025 State CIO Survey: Leading Change Through Uncertain Times, released on October 13, highlights the rapid rise of AI use in state government. Eighty-two percent of employees in the CIO’s organization use GenAI tools in their daily work—compared to 53% a year ago. NASCIO surveyed state CIOs on eight topics, ranging from artificial intelligence to IT accessibility to modernization funding. Other notable changes included an increase in state CIO budgets for modernization and innovation; for fiscal year 2026, in the CIO organization, half of respondents said their budgets increased. Another major theme noted by NASCIO involved digital accessibility. States experience inconsistent funding for their accessibility initiatives, according to survey data, despite a 2026 federal compliance deadline. According to NASCIO, the organization “represents state chief information officers and information technology executives from the states, territories, and the District of Columbia.”
What Are Security Standards and Why They Matter, published October 7 by GovRAMP, explains how security standards transform cybersecurity policies into consistent, enforceable practices—ensuring that protections, like strong authentication, apply uniformly across agencies and vendors. With standards, explains GovRAMP in their Back-to-Basics series, governments gain a shared language and measurable controls that build trust and resilience. GovRAMP aligns with trusted frameworks like NIST and ISO; “by uniting these standards,” GovRAMP explains, “GovRAMP turns established best practices into a consistent baseline for secure cloud adoption. Providers follow proven requirements. Agencies gain a trusted foundation for evaluation. And everyone benefits from a shared definition of what ‘good security’ looks like.”
A new report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, in partnership with the Beeck Center State CDO Network, reveals the CDOs role in state government innovation. The 2025 State Chief Data Officer Survey: Insights from the Field, released on October 1, showcases the evolving role of the CDO, including challenges, priorities and authority. “From breaking down barriers to sharing data, to navigating authority and organizational challenges, CDOs are shaping the future of how states serve their citizens,” reports NASCIO.
The report showcases:
The National Association for Regulatory Administration recently introduced a new learning center, a hub designed to provide resources, training, and tools for professionals in human care licensing—for both members and non-members alike.
Occupational Licensing Database Available
The Occupational Licensing Law Research Project provides a comprehensive database of the code, law and statutes that regulate various occupations in the United States, dating back to 1991, supporting a historical look at the regulations.
GovRAMP webinar: Progressing Snapshot Program updates
Watch the full recording to learn about upcoming changes before January 1, 2026, effective date, such as new continuous improvement standards, stricter listing requirements, and a streamlined escalation process.
