North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S667 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	S 1
4		-	SENATE BILL 667
	3	+	S D
	4	+	SENATE BILL DRS45350-LR-96A
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Government Modernization. (Public)
8	9		Sponsors: Senators Theodros, Chaudhuri, and Salvador (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	Referred to: ~~Rules and Operations of the Senate~~
10		-	~~March 26, 2025~~
11		-	~~S667 -v-1~~
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRS45350 -LR-96A
12	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13	14		AN ACT TO MODERNIZE NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE 2
14	15		THROUGH TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, CYBERSECURITY ENHANCEMENTS, 3
15	16		BLOCKCHAIN INTEGRATION, AND PUBLIC SERVICE DIGITIZATION. 4
16	17		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
17	18		SECTION 1. Title. – This act shall be known and may be cited as the Government 6
18	19		Modernization Act of 2025. 7
19	20		SECTION 2.(a) Findings. – The General Assembly finds that: 8
20	21		(1) Many State agencies continue to operate with outdated legacy IT systems, 9
21	22		leading to inefficiencies in service delivery and data management. 10
22	23		(2) Cybersecurity threats pose a growing risk to public data, necessitating stronger 11
23	24		protections and advanced security measures. 12
24	25		(3) Blockchain technology presents an opportunity to enhance transparency, 13
25	26		reduce fraud, and streamline government transactions. 14
26	27		(4) Expanding online government services will improve accessibility for North 15
27	28		Carolina residents and businesses, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and 16
28	29		increasing operational efficiency. 17
29	30		SECTION 2.(b) Purpose. – The purpose of this Act is to modernize North Carolina's 18
30	31		government operations by implementing advanced technological solutions to enhance efficiency, 19
31	32		security, and accessibility in public services. 20
32	33		SECTION 3. Digital Infrastructure Overhaul. – The Department of Information 21
33	34		Technology (DIT) shall oversee the modernization of IT infrastructure across all State agencies, 22
34	35		including: 23
35	36		(1) Upgrading outdated legacy systems to enhance interoperability and 24
36	37		efficiency. 25
37	38		(2) Implementing cloud-based solutions for improved data management and 26
38	39		service continuity. 27
39	40		(3) Establishing centralized digital records management to facilitate inter-agency 28
40	41		coordination and reduce redundancies. 29
41	42		SECTION 4.(a) Assessment. – State agencies shall conduct a comprehensive 30
42	43		assessment of their current IT infrastructure within six months of the enactment of this Act and 31
43	44		submit modernization plans to DIT for review and implementation. 32
44	45		SECTION 4.(b) Cybersecurity and Data Protection. – The State Chief Information 33
45	46		Officer (CIO) shall develop and implement enhanced cybersecurity protocols, including: 34
46	47		(1) Multi-factor authentication and encryption standards for all government 35
47		-	digital platforms. 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 Senate Bill 667-First Edition
	48	+	digital platforms. 36
	49	+	FILED SENATE
	50	+	Mar 25, 2025
	51	+	S.B. 667
	52	+	PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	53	+	Page 2 DRS45350-LR-96A
49	54		(2) Continuous monitoring and rapid response measures for cyber threats. 1
50	55		(3) Mandatory cybersecurity training for all State employees handling digital 2
51	56		information. 3
52	57		SECTION 4.(c) Task Force. – The State Cybersecurity Task Force shall be 4
53	58		established to oversee the implementation of security measures and report annually to the General 5
54	59		Assembly on progress and emerging threats. 6
55	60		SECTION 5.(a) Blockchain Integration. – The DIT, in consultation with the 7
56	61		Department of Administration, shall study ways in which integrating blockchain technology may 8
57	62		contribute to the following outcomes: 9
58	63		(1) Greater security in maintaining records of transactions and contracts to which 10
59	64		the State is a party. 11
60	65		(2) Enhanced verification mechanisms for licenses, permits, and certifications. 12
61	66		(3) Greater transparency for procurement processes to reduce fraud and ensure 13
62	67		accountability. 14
63	68		(4) Any other benefits to the State. 15
64	69		SECTION 5.(b) No later than 12 months after this act becomes law, the DIT shall 16
65	70		submit a report of its findings to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information 17
66	71		Technology. 18
67	72		SECTION 6.(a) Public Service Digitization and Accessibility. – State agencies shall 19
68	73		expand and improve online government services, including: 20
69	74		(1) Digital application and processing for licenses, permits, and public records. 21
70	75		(2) Online portals for tax payments, business filings, and other essential 22
71	76		government functions. 23
72	77		(3) Mobile-friendly platforms to enhance accessibility for residents and 24
73	78		businesses. 25
74	79		SECTION 6.(b) The Office of Digital Transformation shall be established within 26
75	80		the DIT to oversee the digitization of government services and ensure seamless user experience 27
76	81		across platforms. 28
77	82		SECTION 7. Funding and Implementation. – The General Assembly shall 29
78	83		appropriate necessary funds for the implementation of this act, with priority funding allocated to: 30
79	84		(1) IT infrastructure upgrades. 31
80	85		(2) Cybersecurity enhancements. 32
81	86		(3) Blockchain pilot programs. 33
82	87		(4) Expansion of technology partners to ensure cost-effective and innovative 34
83	88		solutions in the implementation of this act. 35
84	89		SECTION 8. Reporting and Accountability. – The DIT shall submit an annual 36
85	90		progress report to the General Assembly detailing the implementation status, challenges, and 37
86	91		recommendations related to government modernization efforts. The Joint Legislative Oversight 38
87	92		Committee on Digital Governance shall be established to oversee implementation and ensure 39
88	93		compliance with this act. 40
89	94		SECTION 9. Effective Date. – This act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and expires 41
90	95		June 30, 2030. 42