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California honored for nation-leading efficiency and data-driven improvements in state services and programs 

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Sep 15, 2026

California honored for nation-leading efficiency and data-driven improvements in state services and programs

What you need to know: Delivering on the Governor's vision of making state government more efficient, effective, and engaged, California was recognized for its leadership in using data and evidence to drive more effective government.

SACRAMENTO – California continues producing results — creating more efficiencies and making state government work better for the people it serves. Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has been platinum certified by Results For America as a nation-leading state for its record of successfully increasing the impact of taxpayer dollars, record of evidence-based actions and results, and increased transparency and access through landmark data infrastructure. This award continues to demonstrate the impact of the Newsom administration's proven approaches that are delivering real, measurable results.

In California, we measure progress by how well we directly deliver results for the people. Our work is making state government smarter, more accountable, and more effective by putting data and evidence behind the decisions we make. California is setting the standard for what effective government can look like, and setting the pace for the rest of the nation.

Governor Gavin Newsom

"This platinum certification is a direct result of the Governor's commitment to modernizing how state government operates," said Secretary Nick Maduros, California Government Operations Agency. "While there's much work left to do, we've worked across every agency to build efficient processes and adopt innovative technologies that make government work better for Californians. From our integrated Cradle-to-Career Data System to our expedited procurement process, we're proving that government innovation isn't just possible – it's essential. We're honored to be recognized among the nation's most efficient states."

California is one of only 8 states recognized nationally in this year's platinum certification. The report details the $6.9 billion in evidence-based solutions between 2023 and 2026, among the largest investments of any state recognized by Results for America.

Key achievements recognized
  • Data leadership: In 2019, Governor Newsom established the Office of Data Innovation (ODI), a department led by technology experts dedicated to supporting other state agencies, departments, and employees to utilize data, technology, and principles of human-centered design common in the private sector to improve the delivery of services to Californians.
  • Integrated data systems: California built landmark cross-agency data infrastructure to deliver results and create efficiencies through data, including the Cradle-to-Career Data System (C2C), linking education, employment, and support agency data. Recently, C2C connected 40,000 community college students with more than $20 million in scholarships.
  • Performance management: California is streamlining the state hiring process and making applying for and moving between state jobs easier. The State Leadership Accountability Act, requires all state agencies to monitor their internal control systems to minimize fraud, errors, waste, and abuse. Hiring reforms have reduced application screening time by nearly 87% in initial pilots, consolidating 67 job titles into 8 classifications.

Leading in government efficiency across the board

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Governor Newsom has made efficiency and innovation — with appropriate safeguards protecting privacy, safety, and civil liberties — a top priority since the start of his administration. Here are a few more examples demonstrating government efficiency under the Newsom administration.
  • Created AskCA, a new AI-powered digital assistant to help Californians better navigate state and local services. AskCA is designed to be a single entry point, guided by what Californians need, to make navigating state and local government programs easier than ever before.
  • Overhauled and modernized the DMV to reduce wait times, expanded online services, and improved customer service. Efforts by the Newsom administration have nearly doubled customer satisfaction.
  • Implemented new cutting-edge technologies to fight wildfires, including cameras across the state and data modeling to improve incident reporting, and to predict where wildfires might occur and where drones should be deployed.
  • Made extreme heat decision-making information accessible to all through a centralized tool, CalHeatScore, helping Californians stay informed, ready, and safe when temperatures rise. This tool translates temperatures into risk, helping agencies and community-based organizations implement actions to keep their communities safe in extreme heat.
  • Made tax filing easier for small businesses through two new tools that streamline the process. This is one way California is helping small businesses spend more time doing business and less time filing taxes.
  • Launched the Emerging Technology Accelerator, leveraging pro bono technical expertise from UC Berkeley, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, Mozilla Foundation, Nava Labs, Tech Talent Project, and US Digital Response to modernize government service delivery.
  • Launched the Breakthrough Project with industry executives to support efficiency initiatives, helping save $12 million through pooled IT contracts, digitized 40,000 water rights records, expanded access to the Golden Bear Pass Program, and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by digitizing outdated printing processes.
  • Launched Engaged California, the first-of-its-kind digital platform that offers a virtual town hall setting to empower all Californians to engage and share insights about a particular topic. This tool seeks to give Californians a stronger voice in AI policy and assess its impact on the state's economy and workers.

Click to find out more about efficiencies California is leading:

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