News

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, l…

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 …

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 c…

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: 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 fi…

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: 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 e…

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: 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 …

What to Know: The new medical education and research initiative is tied to UT’s partnership with MD Anderson. The UT Dell Medical Center will be AI-native, using AI and advanced computing to connect care, research and discovery. The broader initiative will also support the Texas Advanced Computing Center, undergraduate scholarships and student housing.

What to Know: DIR has launched a new record conversion service through Shared Technology Services to help public entities digitize paper records, CDs and DVDs. Participating entities can choose how digital files are structured, where they are stored and what happens to the original physical materials after conversion. DIR is framing the service as part of Texas’ broader push toward digital govern…

What to Know: Tony Sauerhoff has announced a slate of leadership changes at the Texas Department of Information Resources aimed at aligning the agency with its strategic priorities. Josh Godbey has moved into the deputy executive director role, while John Hoffman has been named deputy CIO and will continue serving as chief technology officer. Brittney Booth Paylor now serves as chief of staff, an…

What to Know: The city of Dallas is hiring a chief information security officer to lead its citywide information security management program. The role is being filled in the interim by Derrick Age.

What to Know: ERCOT wants a batch process for large-load interconnections instead of the current one-by-one review. PUCT is preparing to change cost allocation rules so residential customers do not shoulder the transmission build-out for hyperscale loads. Projects that bring their own generation or can reduce load in emergencies may have a smoother path to interconnection.

What to Know: College Station approved a $1.32 million Tyler Technologies contract for enterprise planning and development software that will support online permitting and internal city workflows. The purchase will replace the city’s aging eTRAKiT platform, which officials said has reached end of life. The company already provides the city’s financial and court systems.

What to Know: A Travis County district judge granted a temporary injunction April 13 blocking enforcement of the emergency HUB rules. The order also bars the comptroller from enforcing or adopting the proposed rules unless the Legislature amends the HUB Act and the governor signs it or a court declares the HUB Act unconstitutional or void. The comptroller must issue statewide notice to prime cont…

What to Know: The city of Harlingen ended fiscal 2024-25 with a record $41.3 million fund balance and $66.5 million in revenue, both up from the prior year. An independent audit gave the city a clean opinion and found no instances of noncompliance tied to internal controls, signaling sound financial management. The city’s $37.4 million unassigned balance could cover about 191 days of operations, …

What to Know: North Central Texas Council of Governments Chief Innovation Officer Tim Howell discussed AI pilots on a Technology Foresight Council panel. He said NCTCOG is approaching AI adoption through three pillars: governance, enablement and access. Howell said his organization has backed that approach with an AI committee, annual strategic planning, an agent governance framework, staff train…

What to Know: The site combines dashboards and reports from both agencies on topics including infectious disease, environmental health, violence prevention, maternal and child health, and chronic disease. Officials say the hub is meant to make public health data easier for residents, researchers and local partners to access and use.