[ST. PAUL, MN] – Today, Governor Tim Walz signed /governor/assets/20-77%20Final_tcm1055-438770.pdfExecutive Order 20-77, which extends the tenure of the state’s Blue Ribbon Council on Information Technology through February 2021. The Council was established on February 6, 2019 by Executive Order 19-02, to serve as an advisory group to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on the development and implementation of Minnesota’s information technology (IT) systems. Since the Council was established, its members have lent their time and expertise to help develop a strong list of recommendations pertaining to state technology efforts, which are included in the Council’s first full report.

“The Council’s work has been valuable in advancing and improving the State’s technology systems so we can serve Minnesotans in ways that fit their needs,” said Governor Walz. “I am extending the timeframe of the Council’s commitment so they can continue this work and provide recommendations to our administration.”

“The work of the Council has been a true partnership between state, local government and private sector technology leaders, and I am grateful for the members’ significant contributions of time and expertise as we work to advance Minnesota’s innovative technology efforts,” said Commissioner of Minnesota IT Services, Tarek Tomes. “The Blue Ribbon Council’s recommendations hold tremendous promise for Minnesota’s ability to create a culture that embraces change, looks to transform the way we deliver government services through a human-centered lens, and effectively leverages the power of modern technology.”

The Blue Ribbon Council’s June 2020 report highlights its recommendations for state technology, focused on topics such as cybersecurity, data privacy, modernization, and the development of a strong state IT workforce. The Council has also published three quarterly reports, in June 2019, September 2019, and December 2019. This report includes new recommendations and reflects on the recommendations included in the previous reports, the actions that have already been taken, and the appropriate next steps.

The membership of the Blue Ribbon Council is made up of IT leadership from the private sector, state representatives and senators, and public-sector IT and government leaders. Rick King, chief operating officer for technology at Thomson Reuters and previously a member of the state’s Technology Advisory Committee, serves as the Chair of the Blue Ribbon Council.

“The actionable recommendations in this report, a culmination of 18 months of work by the broad-ranging members of the Council, clearly marks a path for Minnesota’s IT systems and expertise to become more robust, efficient and secure. It is a modernization roadmap,” said Rick King.

As implementation of these recommendations moves forward, continued collaboration, advice, and counsel from a broad range of public and private sectors leaders will help shape the future of government service delivery to more effectively serve all Minnesotans.