Legislature updates GIS, higher-education reporting; privacy expansions stall

Connecticut’s Data Board on Tuesday reviewed the 2025 legislative session’s changes that affect how the state collects and shares data, including a new requirement that certain infrastructure information be submitted to the Office of Policy and Management and expanded reporting from public colleges and workforce boards.

The board’s chair, Scott (Chief Data Officer), told members the new law will require annual submissions to OPM on bridges and culverts beginning in 2028, and that the bond package allocated funds for statewide flood and resiliency mapping next fiscal year. “We’re gonna have data annually submitted to OPM starting, in 2028,” Scott said during the meeting.

The requirement is intended to provide a statewide view of infrastructure that can inform flood modeling and resiliency planning. Scott said the state will work with towns and the existing bi-monthly GIS advisory council chaired by the state geographic information officer to develop standards for the new reporting.

Why it matters: statewide, standardized infrastructure data and flood maps are meant to improve planning and risk…