Governor Wes Moore Announces Action to Transform Maryland Executive Branch Digital Services

Patrick Herron January 8, 2024 at 4:52pm

Per the State of Maryland: “Governor Wes Moore today announced four major actions that the Moore-Miller Administration is taking to transform the digital experience in State government. The transformation focuses on the responsible use of artificial intelligence, user-centered design in digital services, ensuring equal access to all information technology, and protecting Maryland’s digital infrastructure through enhanced intergovernmental partnerships.

“In our first year, we learned that it isn’t enough to rebuild state government–we need to modernize state government too,” said Gov. Moore. “Together, we will improve the experience that Marylanders have on state websites to make it easier to access state resources; together, we will ensure that all state services are accessible to the public — including individuals with disabilities; and together, we will bolster cybersecurity across the public sector so we remain safe from cyberattacks. By modernizing state government, we will better meet our constituent needs, we will better address our community challenges, and we will better assert Maryland’s leadership in this decade.”

The Moore-Miller Administration and the Maryland Department of Information Technology are committed to providing vital technology solutions that allow the executive branch, state agencies and coordinating offices to provide Marylanders with the services that enable them to live and work more safely, efficiently, and productively. The department leads the state’s strategic direction for IT and telecommunications, encouraging cross-agency collaboration and advocating for best practices for operations and project management, including the actions announced today:

Issuing an Artificial Intelligence Executive Order to direct the foundational work to catalyze the responsible and productive use of artificial intelligence by state agencies. The executive order also establishes an AI Subcabinet that will develop and implement a comprehensive AI action plan to operationalize the State’s AI principles and create appropriate “guard rails” for agencies’ use of AI. The AI Subcabinet will also promote AI knowledge, skills, and talent in state government.
Creating the Maryland Digital Service within the Maryland Department of Information Technology to support state agency needs with a team of state product managers, user researchers, designers and engineers, which the department has never had in-house before. This team will support website and application redesigns and discovery efforts for agencies to inform more accurate and agile procurements. The new innovative team will focus on well-designed and user-centered digital experiences to increase trust in government, decrease the cost to serve and support agencies in delivering on their critical missions.
Issuing Maryland’s first-ever Digital Accessibility policy, which will ensure equal access to State-procured and developed information technology and services for all Marylanders, regardless of ability. It aims to provide the highest degree of usability for everyone.
Establishing the Maryland Cybersecurity Task Force, which brings together cybersecurity experts from the Maryland Department of Information Technology, the Maryland Military Department, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, to foster a whole-of-government approach to proactive cybersecurity within the state of Maryland.

“The collective actions we are announcing today are the beginning of where we need to go as a state and a nation,” said Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage. “To be competitive and include everyone in our success, we must embrace new technology while ensuring it is secure and accessible to all.”