SACRAMENTO — California has announced its latest government efficiency initiatives, including expanded access to generative AI tools, faster state hiring, simplified tax filing for small businesses and broader access to extreme-heat risk information.

The measures follow an executive order signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in July 2025 directing state agencies to involve employees in identifying and implementing new ways to improve government operations and public services.

Generative AI for State Employees

California has partnered with Anthropic to make Claude the first AI productivity tool available to all state employees. Agencies can obtain access at a 50% discount, along with free employee training and technical support.

The Department of Motor Vehicles is using the technology to improve customer service and reduce wait times. The Department of Health Care Services is applying it to internal workflows, while state technology and emergency-service agencies are exploring its use in cybersecurity, including scanning and patching computer code.

Faster State Hiring

The California Department of Human Resources has completed its first pooled-hiring pilot, combining similar vacancies at several agencies into a single job posting and coordinating screening and interviews.

According to the state, the approach reduced screening and interview time by 75%. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration has since adopted the model for its NextGen Program, which is designed to recruit college students into state service.

Simpler Tax Filing for Small Businesses

The tax department has also introduced Quick File and a question-based Return Filing Tool to help small businesses complete sales-tax returns more quickly and accurately.

Quick File allows eligible businesses to complete annual returns in less than two minutes. Approximately 15,000 taxpayers used it during the first peak filing period, reporting 70% faster filing and an estimated 900 hours in total time savings. More than 600 customers used the new guided filing tool during its first two months.

 Wider Access to Heat-Risk Information

The state has expanded access to CalHeatScore through an application programming interface, or API. The system translates temperatures into risk levels that can be incorporated into mobile apps, community alerts, emergency plans and news reports.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has added live CalHeatScore information to its statewide dashboard, helping agencies and communities make safety decisions during extreme heat.

Information about these and more than two dozen additional initiatives is available at [Results.ca.gov](https://results.ca.gov/).