How AI is helping states cut through decades of red tape

2026-07-23 · Source: RegLab · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Policy & Governance, Digital Government & E-Government · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Stanford's RegLab partnered with the states of New York, California, and Maryland to streamline government operations by identifying and removing outdated or unnecessary regulations, often referred to as "red tape." This initiative combined RegLab's advanced AI applications and team expertise with direct input from state agency partners. Maryland's Secretary of the Department of Service and Civic Innovation, Jonny Dorsey, highlighted that this collaboration enabled a comprehensive accounting of what agencies are asked to produce, their associated costs, and the value they provide. The resulting data empowers these states to enhance efficiency, improve accountability, and deliver more tangible results for the public by systematically addressing decades of bureaucratic provisions.

Key takeaway

For government administrators tasked with improving public service delivery and efficiency, this initiative demonstrates a clear path. You should explore partnerships with AI research entities to apply advanced analytics to your existing regulatory frameworks. This approach can provide the data needed to identify and eliminate costly, low-value provisions, directly enhancing accountability and accelerating the pace of government operations.

Key insights

AI, combined with agency expertise, streamlines government by identifying and eliminating outdated regulations.

Principles

• AI can accelerate regulatory review processes.
• Data-driven insights improve government efficiency and accountability.

Method

Partner AI experts with state agencies to apply AI applications for a full accounting of regulatory production, costs, and value.

In practice

• Audit existing regulatory provisions using AI tools.
• Generate data to inform policy decisions for greater state efficiency.

Topics

• AI in Government
• Regulatory Reform
• Public Sector Efficiency
• State Government
• RegLab
• Policy Modernization

Best for: Executive, Policy Maker, Consultant, Operations Professional

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by RegLab.