Cooler heads prevail in heated Texas IT governance battle; the future of Texas IT under the new DIR

Deltek Sr. Analyst Chris Cotner reports.

In my blog last month on Governor Perry’s veto of Texas House Bill 2499, the fate of the Department of Information Resources (DIR) and its pending sunset was largely unclear. “This veto is a clear shot across the bow by the governor indicating his keen and continued interest in state IT … HB 2499 was an attempt to change the political power landscape in the state by taking authority away from the governor,” I wrote. With Perry’s veto and no further action by the legislature, the DIR’s sunset provision (Texas Code Title 10, Subtitle B § 2054.005) would take effect September 1, 2011, leaving IT governance, projects, and procurement in limbo. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and the DIR was saved through 2013.

It is always good to receive validation of projections. As I predicted in my blog, the Texas DIR is not sunsetting and funding will continue through FY 2013. Does this mean business as usual for contractors? Well, yes and no.

With the new law originating in SB 1 from the 2011 special legislative session, much of the DIR will remain the same, some things will change, and the exact future of the agency will remain unclear.

For the complete blog, go here.