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Newsom’s plan to modernize California: faster paperwork, heat alerts and new hiring methods

From Clarín · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom says state agencies have improved efficiency through digital participation, faster tax filing and heat-risk alerts.
  • The Quick File system has been used by 15,000 taxpayers and reduced processing time by 70%, according to the article.
  • California has also piloted a centralized hiring system that combines vacancies from multiple departments in a single posting.

Gavin Newsom wants California’s government to work more efficiently, but he is rejecting the drastic solutions attempted by President Donald Trump. Instead, the governor says, the state should use more innovative “tools.”

In July 2025, Newsom signed an executive order instructing every California agency to involve its employees in identifying and implementing efficiency measures. “Government must work for the people; we are not only changing how it operates, but also how Californians experience it, with better services, more innovation and greater public participation,” he said in a statement.

Tools

· Gavin NewsomNewsom’s description of the innovative methods he says California should use to improve government.

One initiative, Engaged California, created what the article describes as the first digital platform for Californians to discuss and share views on specific issues. The pilot involved people affected by the Los Angeles fires, followed by government officials who contributed ideas for improving administration. Those discussions helped produce a simpler tax-filing process for small businesses.

Government must work for the people; we are not only changing how it operates, but also how Californians experience it, with better services, more innovation and greater public participation.

· Gavin NewsomThe governor’s statement about his administration’s modernization program.

California’s Department of Tax and Fee Administration introduced Quick File. The system has been used by 15,000 taxpayers and accelerated procedures by 70%. Another digital tool, Cal Heat Score, warns residents about the risks of high temperatures and helps agencies and community organizations act during extreme heatwaves. During the 2026 World Cup, the California Department of Public Health used its API to help protect attendees, workers and communities. The Office of Emergency Services now receives real-time Cal Heat Score data on its statewide dashboard.

The state has also tried to simplify hiring. California’s Department of Human Resources completed a pilot for “centralized hiring,” combining vacancies from different departments into a single announcement. Four agencies took part: the Department of Public Health, the Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

Centralized hiring

· California Department of Human ResourcesThe name of the pilot program designed to combine vacancies from multiple departments.
About this summary

Originally published by Clarín in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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