The Executive Director of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers Doug Robinson revealed the tech forecast for state IT during a webinar on January 14. The 2025 Tech Forecast for State and Local IT: All Abord the AI Train and More Tech Adventures webinar highlighted information from many NASCIO publications, including the State CIO Top Ten Policy and Technology Priorities for 2025; cybersecurity and risk management topped that list as the number one priority. Accessibility joined the top 10 list for the first time, he said, due to the Department of Justice’s final rule and the impending deadlines for state agencies. In summary, Robinson said the “AI train will continue and will likely accelerate.” Additional points in his forecast included:
The webinar also shared the forecast for local IT, featuring Executive Director of the Public Technology Institute Alan Shark.
Arkansas ranks number two overall for all states and Puerto Rico in the 2024 State Occupational Licensing Index from the Archbridge Institute and the Knee Regulatory Research Center; the score places the state second among states for the highest occupational licensing burden. Besides the overall ranking, the report also features a state profile ranking that puts states in one of five quintiles. Arkansas falls at the bottom of that ranking system, scoring the “most occupational licensing” with a quintile ranking of one. The quintile system reviews several factors, including barriers and licenses, along with universal recognition reforms. The licensing index, released in August, contains information on 284 occupations.
Other overall rankings include Tennessee at number three and Oregon at number four.
In the January 15 podcast from the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation, CLEAR tackles the topic of freedom of expression and the role of the regulator. CLEAR Regulation Matters: a CLEAR Conversation podcast features Scott Mcleod of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. He explains how the CPSA aims to strike the right balance of allowing physicians the freedom to express opinions while also maintaining their responsibilities as a professional to protect the public. Mcleod also shares the complications caused by social media.
