New York governor unveils Innovation Office, cyber incident reporting mandate, AI training
Alongside New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address on Tuesday, her administration announced a host of ways she intends to use technology to improve the state government’s services and operations, including a cybersecurity incident reporting mandate, required AI training and a broad effort to increase access to government services.
Hochul, a Democrat who’s said she plans to run for reelection in 2026, centered her speech around housing, public safety, mental health, climate change and infrastructure investments, but also released an announcement containing numerous initiatives involving technology.
One of the largest proposals was a call for a new state Office of Innovation and Efficiency, which according to Hochul’s press materials, would provide “internal consulting, centralized project support, and performance tracking,” and issue annual progress reports. According Hochul’s office, the new innovation office is needed because “agencies often struggle to redesign operations and implement improvements due to limited inhouse expertise.”
Hochul proposed a suite of initiatives to boost access to government services, starting with a pilot program that installs self-service kiosks in needy communities, to obtain benefits like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Hochul said she’ll also advance legislation to optimize the complaint process at the Division of Human Rights and “modernize” the claims assistance program at the Office of Victims Services.
The governor said she plans to introduce at least three new cybersecurity efforts, including requiring cybersecurity awareness training for government employees in New York and bolstering state network security through the deployment of “cyber tools.” Thirdly, Hochul said she’ll introduce legislation that requires local governments to report cybersecurity incidents and ransom payments through a “centralized mechanism.”
Hochul said she’ll direct the Office of Information Technology Services to provide training about artificial intelligence to state employees, “basic education about how AI can be safely used in the workplace to improve productivity and efficiency.”
She said she plans also to expand the state’s broadband network and cell phone service network, digitize the process for verifying minors are authorized to work and improve tracking of capital projects through the creation of a new “database and dashboard.”
In a change not only affecting the state’s technology staff, Hochul said she’ll also expand availability of the state’s list of preauthorized vendors so that it can also be used by state agencies, not only municipal governments. Preauthorizing vendors is a common practice across state governments intended to speed along procurement.
