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Senate approves bill increasing transparency and review for Agency of Digital Services projects

3550695 · May 28, 2025

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Summary

H.458 requires the Agency of Digital Services to provide a public, regularly updated inventory of major IT projects, submit expanded annual reports, and mandate independent reviews for projects exceeding $1 million; the Senate ordered third reading and passed the bill.

The Vermont Senate ordered third reading and passed H.458, a bill that revises reporting and oversight requirements for the Agency of Digital Services (ADS).

The bill requires the ADS to include in its annual report a detailed summary of active IT projects managed by the agency’s enterprise project management office. For projects with budgets over $1,000,000 the bill requires an independent expert review covering acquisition cost, standards compliance, implementation planning, cost-benefit analysis, alternatives, operations cost impact and security assessments. The chief information officer may waive these reviews where duplicative reviews have been completed.

H.458 also requires the ADS to maintain a publicly accessible, monthly-updated online inventory listing each project’s name, state government business partner, start date, estimated completion date, estimated cost, and whether the project is on time and on budget. The bill directs the agency to include performance metrics, fiscal-year financials, cost savings estimates, strategic plan updates, independent review summaries and a systems inventory in its annual report. The bill’s effective date is July 1, 2025.

On the floor, Senator Major (reporting for the Institutions Committee) described the bill’s goal as improving transparency so the General Assembly and public have better visibility into major IT initiatives. Senator from Rutland asked where the inventory would be posted; Major replied it "will reside on the website" and that he would provide additional details about third-party hosting if necessary. Later, the reporter stated there would be "no cost to this bill." The Senate approved third reading by voice vote.