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Subcommittee declines to fund DMV chief data officer amid budget constraints
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Summary
The subcommittee voted unanimously not to approve funding for a new DMV chief data officer position, citing budget pressures; staff were authorized to make technical adjustments.
The subcommittee on Public Safety, Natural Resources and Transportation voted unanimously on April 24 to decline the governor's recommendation to fund a new chief data officer at the Department of Motor Vehicles for the 2025'7 biennium.
Fiscal staff described that the governor proposed a new unclassified chief data officer, funded with cost allocation reimbursement revenue of $506,984 over the biennium, whose responsibilities would include overseeing the DMV's records search section and data strategy. During the budget hearing, the department said the role would differ from the information security officer by focusing on collection, storage, dissemination and governance of data.
Chair Watts moved that the committee recommend against funding the position because of budget realities; Senator Wynne seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Fiscal staff were given authority to enter necessary technical adjustments.
Why it matters: The chief data officer would have centralized data governance and management responsibilities across the DMV, an agency with multiple legacy systems and a department transformation effort underway. The subcommittee's rejection reflects competing budget priorities for the 2025'7 biennium.
Next steps: The department may re-propose the role or seek funding through other budget processes. No additional appropriations for the position were approved at this hearing.
