The SOS should investigate new electronic voting options that are both feasible, cost-effective and accurate for as many Texas counties as possible. One way that Texas could make it easier to do business with the state would be to provide online one-stop shopping for businesses. Citizens should be able to obtain needed business start-up information from one single and convenient place, regardless of business type or permits required. The state should also offer online occupational and professional licensing through the portal. Reporting requirements are resource intensive for the regulated community as well as state government.
Electronic filing is faster, cheaper and cuts down on paper.
State agencies should provide electronic reporting alternatives for businesses and individuals and offer electronic grant application processes for nonprofit organizations and local governments. Improve Privacy Protection for Citizens and Businesses Databases and personalization software make it easy to compile a profile of individual citizens and businesses. While individual pieces of information collected from different agencies may seem harmless, when compiled they may allow someone to apply for credit cards, bank loans, make purchases, or apply for a job in someone else's name. Thus, new technology has been accompanied by new concerns about the availability of personal information. Texas long has followed a tradition of open government, providing most public documents to its citizens upon request.