The Information Technology Committee of the North Dakota Legislature convened on August 20, 2025, to discuss several key initiatives aimed at improving the state's IT infrastructure and services. The meeting focused on ongoing projects, funding allocations, and strategies for addressing technological challenges.

The session began with an update on the Request for Proposals (RFPs) related to the state's data center migration project. Officials expressed optimism about completing the full migration by the end of the biennium, although they acknowledged that the timeline would be tight. The plan includes managing one physical data center internally while contracting with a second data center for future needs.

A significant topic of discussion was the North Dakota Gateway, a project funded in 2023 that aims to streamline access for businesses interacting with various state agencies. Built on the ServiceNow platform, this initiative is designed to enhance the government experience for citizens by providing a single access point. However, the committee noted that funding for the citizen portal aspect of the project had not been secured for the current biennium. Conversations with agencies highlighted the inefficiencies of the existing paper-based onboarding and offboarding systems, prompting the decision to allocate funds for enterprise licenses for ServiceNow. This will facilitate the automation of user access management, reducing delays and errors associated with manual processes.

The committee also addressed the need for a recruitment strategy to build a pipeline of IT talent, particularly through Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers. Discussions included potential partnerships with ServiceNow to implement certification programs in these educational institutions, thereby training a workforce capable of supporting the state's IT initiatives.

Another critical issue raised was the management of technological debt, particularly concerning the retirement of the mainframe system. The committee outlined plans to eliminate outdated applications and improve security by transitioning to modern platforms. A project manager has been appointed to oversee the tech debt initiative, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to prevent future technological liabilities.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the necessity of strategic planning for application management. The committee recognized that merely addressing issues as they arise is insufficient; instead, a systematic approach to reviewing and managing applications is essential to avoid recurring tech debt.

Overall, the committee's discussions underscored a commitment to enhancing North Dakota's IT capabilities through strategic investments, improved processes, and workforce development, setting the stage for more efficient government operations and better service delivery to citizens.