Relating to modernization of state agency Internet websites and digital services.

Contracts

• Third-Party Software Vendors: Review Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with vendors who manage your state filings (e.g., payroll processors for TWC, environmental consultants for TCEQ). You must ensure their contracts require them to update their API connections and software within 30 days of a state portal change to prevent compliance gaps.
• State Procurement: If you are a vendor to the state, expect new contract addendums requiring adherence to specific accessibility (WCAG) and user-experience standards.

Hiring/Training

• Credential Management: Centralize administrative login credentials immediately. Do not allow individual employees to hold the only access keys to state portals.
• Field Staff Training: Update training for field staff (construction, healthcare, energy) to utilize mobile-responsive reporting tools, as the law mandates mobile-friendly designs for field reporting.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Proof of Submission: The "file-stamped copy" is obsolete. You must update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to mandate the preservation of digital metadata, confirmation emails, and screenshots of submission screens.
• Audit Trails: Maintain an internal log of filing attempts. If a new state portal crashes during a deadline, your internal logs will be the primary evidence required to waive late fees or penalties.

Fees & Costs

• Indirect Operational Costs: Anticipate increased administrative hours during the transition period to navigate new interfaces and troubleshoot login issues.
• Potential IT Costs: If you utilize proprietary scripts to "scrape" data from state websites, these will break. Budget for IT resources to rewrite these scripts once URL structures change.