Policy & Practice | Fall 2026

Robust data governance policies help ensure that the data that AI uses is more informed, consistently applied or reviewed, securely managed, and considerate of policy requirements.

putting boundaries around tasks. Should weak data governance result in poorly sourced AI workflows— especially in human services—there could be an impact on the provision of an agency’s services and, thereby, an impact on potential recipients, case workers, and taxpayers. Robust data governance policies help ensure that the data that AI uses is more informed, consistently applied or reviewed, securely managed, and considerate of policy require ments. State agencies might achieve this by establishing formal gover nance structures or innovation labs designed to continuously test systems for performance, error patterns, and operational compliance. In light of the sensitive data they handle, state agencies are regularly tasked with meeting stricter security benchmarks. This makes data conscious partnerships a must. Look for partners with certifications like “FedRAMP Ready” status or NIST or How Can Agencies Account for Data Security?

FISMA benchmarks, which signify that a data architecture has the necessary guardrails to protect consumer infor mation against escalating cyber threats and other similar considerations. For further examples, see Equifax’s security annual report, which high lights the importance of pairing advanced data analytics with a secu rity-focused approach. 3 The Path Forward: Moving From Adoption to Accountability As state human services agencies continue to integrate AI into their workflows, the long-term measure of success will be whether these tools seem to create a more responsive and human-centric process for seeking

government services. By establishing rigorous data governance, partnering with secure infrastructure providers, and keeping humans (both beneficia ries and caseworkers) at the center of their decision making, states can more responsibly work to deliver the true promise of AI. David Turner is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Government Solutions at Equifax. Reference Notes 1. https://governor.maryland.gov/news/ press-releases/maryland-secures-ai-grants strengthen-delivery-public-services 2. https://innovation.nj.gov/projects/ ai-assistant/ 3. https://www.equifax.com/about-equifax/ security/annual-report

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Fall 2026 Policy & Practice