Governor Maura Healey Files $1.23 Billion Plan to Modernize IT Systems

BOSTON — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration unveiled the FutureTech Act, a $1.23 billion plan to modernize IT systems across secretariats through Fiscal Years 2025-2029. The bill represents significant IT capital investments to integrate the constituent experience across agencies, deliver on cybersecurity projects across the executive branch, and fund future investments in Artificial Intelligence technology, while also providing funding and technical support to secretariats, agencies, and public higher education institutions, and municipalities. 

“Our administration is committed to making state government more accessible to the residents, businesses and visitors of Massachusetts – and a key way to do that is to ensure that our IT services are updated and easy to use,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud to unveil the FutureTech Act, which will invest in our technology future by improving user experience, strengthening our cybersecurity, and paving the way for us to utilize up and coming technologies like AI. We thank our partners in the Legislature for their careful consideration of our proposal.” 

“The FutureTech Act is the latest example of the innovative ways in which Secretary Snyder and the EOTSS team are working to make our IT services more efficient and accessible,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “From establishing the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board to creating the position of Chief Information Technology Accessibility Officer to establishing the Commonwealth Digital Roadmap, we recognize the critical role that technology plays in the delivery of government services and in the lives of the people of Massachusetts.”  

The current EOTSS bond authorization will be completely exhausted in FY25. To keep large, transformative IT projects on schedule, the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) Office of Capital Planning, in coordination with the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F), assessed the executive branch IT capital project needs for the period of FY25-29. The authorization being requested would fund the continuation of key business applications up to $350 million, enterprise cybersecurity investments of $150 million over the next five years, as well as new capital investments of $275 million.  

The wide-ranging nature of the initiatives planned for funding across state government is a testament to IT’s evolution in recent decades. Information Technology has gone from being a back-office function, used to carry out policy already enacted, to being a fundamental driver of all business and policy functions that we carry out in Massachusetts. As such, this authorization invests not just in IT capital projects, but in Massachusetts’ future ability to expand what is possible through public policy and good government.  

“Our state’s IT systems serve as a key driver for every secretariat, agency and business function that we carry out on behalf of the public,” said EOTSS Secretary and Commonwealth Chief Information Officer Jason Snyder. “This authorization simultaneously keeps our IT assets current and allows us to plan for our long-term cyber resilience strategy, while continuing to innovate in our business and constituent-facing applications.”  

“Information technology is foundational to everything we do in state government, and essential to making sure all our agencies operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. This legislation will ensure moving into the future, as technology rapidly changes around us, that state and local government can protect itself and utilize the latest technology to deliver for businesses and residents,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz.   

“We are thrilled to see a $12 million investment to support the Child Care Financial Assistance Modernization (CCFA) project in the bill filed today by Governor Healey,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director, Strategies for Children. “This capital project is critical to continue the momentum at the Department of Early Education and Care to better serve children and families. Infrastructure matters. By updating the outdated technology systems, we expect that EEC will be able to serve families more effectively and equitably and pay providers in a more timely fashion for financial stability.” 

“The North Shore IT Collaborative has received more than $1 million in Compact funds over the past half decade, which in turn has unlocked several million more in local funds,” said Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha. “These investments laid the groundwork for the regional IT operating model being led by Danvers today, and we’re confident the FutureTech Act will lay the groundwork for similar collaboratives elsewhere in the Commonwealth.” 

This bill includes $1.23 billion in bond authorization to support current and future technology needs over the next five years, in addition to $400 million in authorization to spend anticipated federal funding for major Health and Human Services business application projects. 

Additional information and highlights of the authorization can be found HERE.