North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S667 Latest Draft

Bill / Amended Version Filed 03/26/2025

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(1) Many State agencies continue to operate with outdated legacy IT systems, 9 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(1)  Upgrading outdated legacy systems to enhance interoperability and 24 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