STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Members of the Arizona Legislature gathered today for a special bipartisan seminar on one of the world’s most advanced digital government models, as House Republican Majority Leader Michael Carbone and the House Committee on International Trade welcomed Estonian experts Luukas Ilves and Andrew Thompson to the Capitol.

Mr. Ilves, a former Estonian Undersecretary for Digital Transformation and Government, and Mr. Thompson, Managing Director of LifeSpeed Ventures and CEO of the Estonian Multiomics Company, led a two-hour presentation in the Old Senate Chamber. Their discussion covered Estonia’s successful digital governance model, e-residency program, and how secure, user-friendly digital platforms have made public services in Estonia more transparent and efficient.

“Arizona families deserve a government that works smarter and wastes less,” Majority Leader Carbone said. “Every member, on either side of the aisle, should be asking: how do we modernize? How do we improve? And how do we do it right? Over 160 countries have studied what Estonia has done, and today’s discussion affords lawmakers an opportunity to learn from this proven success so we can deliver better service, increase efficiency, and save taxpayer dollars.”

The event is part of the Republican Majority’s ongoing effort to reform government operations with a forward-looking mindset. Republican priorities this session include cutting bureaucratic overhead, embracing smart policy over bloated programs, and protecting individual rights through better systems and more transparency.

Representative Tony Rivero, Chairman of the International Trade Committee, said the Estonia model offered real-world proof that governments can be more efficient without getting bigger.

“The seminar gave lawmakers the chance to ask questions, hear practical lessons, and start thinking about how Arizona could adapt proven systems without expanding bureaucracy,” Chairman Rivero said. “Estonia shows what’s possible when you innovate and get government out of its own way. That aligns perfectly with the Republicans’ mission to do more with less and do it better.”

Michael Carbone is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 25 which includes portions of Yuma, Maricopa, and La Paz Counties. He also serves as House Majority Leader. Follow him on X at @MichaelCarbone.