Registration and Breakfast

Welcome and Introductions

Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic

Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, Center for Digital Government (CDG)

Tim Galluzi, State Chief Information Officer, Governor’s Office, State of Nevada

Controlled AI Chaos: Leading Through the Disruptive Shift

AI pilots are underway everywhere. AI didn’t arrive with a manual. AI is reshaping the next generation of systems architecture. The software development life cycle as we knew it is gone. DevSecOps is entering a time where development is coming back in house and low-code/no-code takes on new meaning. CIOs, CTOs and CISOs in the executive IT ranks must rethink the fundamentals of their application and infrastructure modernization and plans. Budget challenges rage on. How does the strategy for infrastructure, cloud, modernization, AI, supportable technology stack, and sustainable costs come together?

In this session, we will talk with CIOs about their experiences over the last 24 months. What pilots are working? Where are we failing? What are we learning? And importantly: how will we move to a sustainable approach for how we govern AI in our technology programs into the future? How will CIOs know where it is, what it is being used for, and how to provide structure while not stifling innovation?

Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic

Break

Cybersecurity in the Age of AI

For the first time, cybersecurity came in #2 in the NASCIO top 10 CIO priorities. How does this fit with the new challenges to cybersecurity– federal funds are in jeopardy, federal support is in flux, local governments are looking to partner, and threat actors are deploying AI faster than defenses can adapt. How are CIOs and CISOs recalibrating their security posture when both sides of the attack surface are AI-powered? What new tools and approaches are needed? How does the CISO avoid saying “no” to AI deployments and tools because the full impact is not known? Add to that, how are states preparing for the next wave of quantum?

. This session will explore how the cybersecurity strategies and plans are changing. What is the role of the CISO in ensuring that AI deployments are secure? How are CIOs ensuring innovation without sacrificing citizen protection?

Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, CDG

Lunch

Meeting the Budget Challenges Through Transition

2026 will be a year of significant state policy changes as thirty-six governors are either being re-elected or new leadership is coming in. Even with those Governors staying on, the second term brings changes in policy and focus. Budget challenges continue regardless of who is in the seat.

How are CIOs coping? Will they be able to satisfy citizen demands? Will technology modernization continue to be a priority? Does new or refocused leadership at the top provide an opportunity to highlight the role of technology to change government operations? Are consolidation and shared services going to be part of the discussion again?

This session will explore how CIOs are meeting the challenges of transition. What are their approaches to continuing to fund essential services? Are there new opportunities? Can they drive greater government efficiencies?

Moderator: Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic

Break

The Next Wave of Constituent Experience: The Impact of Agentic AI

The next wave of AI is already here. AI has become the driver of the next wave of improvements to constituent experience from help desks to supporting case workers in the field. AI agents have arrived in the technology provided by technology partners. This brings in a set of new issues. Where can agentic AI drive the next wave of enhancements to constituents? How can government ensure transparency and privacy? How will AI agents be governed – are they an AI ‘employee’ that must be tracked and managed? What does Identity and Access Management look like in an agentic world – do agents require an identity? Who manages human-centered design? How do we move from ‘human in the loop’ to ‘human in the lead’?

New ethical and policy issues emerge. Should state data go back to on-prem data centers located in the state to ensure citizen protection? What leadership skills are needed? How does this change the partnership with the business of government– the agencies and departments?

This session will look into the emerging trends and explore what CIOs are just beginning to face as agentic AI rolls out.

Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, CDG

Break

Procurement Futures: From Risk Avoidance to Strategic Advantage

Procurement is at the heart of every one of the CIO priorities. Technology partners are essential to CIOs as they move into the future. But approaches vary broadly across states. All contracts are now AI contracts requiring new clauses around transparency, algorithmic accountability, accessibility compliance, not to mention meeting current budget challenges. Many states are adopting new and innovative structures for sandboxes. Purchasing collaboratives are becoming the norm.

CIOs have asked the Center for Digital Government to help define the issues,

highlight best practices that can be shared and develop a roadmap to move forward to ensure that innovation continues. The roadmap must define the partnership between technology, procurement and legal counsel to be successful.

This session will be a set of facilitated roundtables focused on the issues, best practices, and challenges to develop a state-wide perspective

Moderators: Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic

Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, CDG

Break

Summit Dinner

Breakfast

The CIO as Strategic Business Advisor: What’s Driving Your Next Two Years

Now is the time to step back and look into the CIO crystal ball. The 2026 NASCIO Strategic Plan calls out the need for the CIO to be a strategic business advisor. With federal funding instability, gubernatorial transitions, AI deployment, changing workforce requirements and increasing citizen demand for better services – what are your highest priority bets in 2026-2028? What will you stop buying? Where will you invest? What agencies and departments will you partner with? How will you keep your workforce happy while transitioning to new skills and management structures? How will your relationships with your technology partners change?

This session will drive the discussion into what opportunities lie ahead for CIOs and their organizations.

Moderator: Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, CDG

The Answer is in the Room – What Did We Miss?

We covered incredible ground together. What are the issues that rank high in the minds of the government technology leaders that we didn’t cover? Did you engage on your priority topic? This final session will go around the room to capture those important issues, challenges, and opportunities that you want to hear more about.

Facilitators:

Phil Bertolini, Chief Delivery Officer, e.Republic

Teri Takai, Chief Programs Officer, CDG

Closing Comments

Digital States Annual Summit 2026 Adjourns