The second edition of the "LegisTech for Democracy" conference, curated by Bússola Tech, provided a dynamic platform to dive into various aspects of digital transformation within legislative bodies. From September 13th to September 15th, 2021, civil servants gathered for 30 hours of enlightening discussions, offering a nuanced exploration of modernisation efforts in legislative processes.

The conference drew a comprehensive picture of how legislative bodies have leveraged digital technologies and innovation to ensure continuity and enhance effectiveness, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The debates brought forward the inherent interconnectedness of various aspects of digital transformation within the legislative arena.

A key theme in the discussions was the application of Artificial Intelligence in legislative processes. This segued seamlessly into an exploration of data-driven drafting, showcasing the remarkable potential of AI and Big Data in making the legislative process more efficient and precise.

Furthermore, the discourse around modernisation and digital transformation strategies extended to the level of subnational legislatures, highlighting the breadth and depth of such initiatives across multiple administrative layers. Notably, the conversation explored the case studies of digital transformation from the US and Brazil, enabling attendees to gain practical insights.

Privacy considerations and user experience came under scrutiny during the conference as well. These aspects served as reminders of the need to balance technology adoption with privacy safeguards and usability. This dialogue extended into the discussion on the user interface for digitalised leadership offices, indicating the importance of intuitive design for enhanced productivity and engagement.

Issues like the digitalisation of the Hansard, phasing out of legacy systems, and the necessary adaptation of standing orders for the digital era collectively underscored the technical and procedural adjustments required in the digital transformation journey.

Through the course of these interconnected debates, the conference highlighted the intricate web of considerations that legislatures across the globe need to navigate in their pursuit of becoming digitally ready, agile, and more responsive to their citizens' needs. This convergence of experiences, ideas, and strategies underlined the collective endeavour to foster a digitally empowered democratic society.

The successful unfolding of the "LegisTech for Democracy" conference was made possible by the active participation of a diverse and prestigious assembly of institutions, whose contributions significantly enriched the depth of dialogue and discourse. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following participants for their invaluable presence and inputs:

• Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de São Paulo | Brazil
• Asamblea Legislativa of Costa Rica
• Asamblea Nacional of Ecuador
• Assembleia Legislativa de Minas Gerais | Brazil
• AUSCL (Australian Society for Computers & Law)
• Cámara de Senadores of Paraguay
• Câmara dos Deputados of Brazil
• Câmara Municipal de São Paulo | Brazil
• Chancellery of the Riigikogu
• Conacate
• Cámara de Diputados de la Nación Argentina
• De Nationale Assemblée of Suriname
• Demand Progress
• EU Parliament
• GovLab
• Hellenic Parliament
• Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados of Chile
• House Democracy Partnership
• House of Commons
• Institute of Political Reform and Democracy
• Inteligov
• Interlegis | Brazil
• International Republican Institute
• Kansas Legislature | Brazil
• Knesset
• Legalbot
• Mancotech
• Milli Majlis
• National Assembly of Pakistan
• National Assembly of Zambia
• NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence
• NATO Parliamentary Assembly
• National Conference of State Legislatures)
• National Democratic Institute
• NovaWorks Australia
• Oireachtas
• Openlegis
• Pan-African Parliament
• ParlAmericas
• Parliament of Guyana
• Parliament of South Africa
• Popvox
• Realta Logic
• Senado Federal of Brazil
• State Assembly of Colorado | Brazil
• State Great Hural of Mongolia
• UK Parliament
• University of Leeds
• U.S. House of Representatives
• Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
• World Bank
• Xcential Legislative Technologies
  

Their engagement and shared insights are a testament to the global commitment towards fostering a digitally empowered democratic society. We deeply appreciate their involvement and contributions to the success of the event.