California is broadening its efforts to integrate digital identity verification into public services, with a series of new pilot projects underway across the state. The initiative aims to move beyond traditional uses of mobile IDs and enable residents to access a wider array of government programs with greater ease and privacy.
Jonathan Porat, California’s Chief Technology Officer, told StateScoop that the Department of Technology is working closely with multiple state and local agencies to test new identity-based service platforms. These efforts build on the state’s existing mobile driver’s license (mDL) initiative and a recent pilot that used Login.gov for benefit distribution via the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP).
From Transit Discounts to Broader Eligibility Programs
The Cal-ITP pilot, launched through the Department of Transportation, enabled residents in Monterey County and Santa Barbara to receive discounted transit fares through contactless payments linked to eligibility data. That system authenticated users through Login.gov, effectively validating identity and benefit status in a single transaction. As of last fall, plans were underway to expand the service to 13 additional transit operators.
“[We’ve] seen a lot of states come out with mobile versions of their driver’s license, and we’re proud as a state to have that as well, but we’re really thinking about, how can we digitize the way that we validate residents identities and eligibility for different programs,” Porat said. He added that the success of Cal-ITP helped bolster confidence in the underlying technology, opening the door to broader applications in areas such as healthcare and utilities.
Expanding Partnerships and Privacy Protections
According to Porat, the state is now working with federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to extend eligibility-based benefits to those with qualifying statuses. A new pilot with the California Public Utilities Commission is also in development, aimed at creating a digital portal that residents can use to determine eligibility for state or local assistance programs.
Privacy remains a core design principle of the initiative. California’s technology agency is collaborating with the California Privacy Protection Agency to ensure vendors adhere to the state’s Delete Act, which mandates that data brokers honor one-stop deletion requests from residents. The state’s architecture supports decentralized data sharing, allowing residents to retain control over which personal information is shared and with whom.
Source: StateScoop
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May 14, 2025 – by Cass Kennedy
