Government news alerts for the rules and decisions that affect you
New visa rules, tax changes or a council decision about your street usually show up first on official government pages that nobody has time to check. This prompt has your todo.is agent watch the official sources you pick, spot new announcements on your topics, and explain each one in plain English with the link to the original.
The prompt
- Every [SCHEDULE], check these official government sources for new announcements: [OFFICIAL SOURCES]. Look for anything about [MY TOPICS]. For each new item since the last check, send me on [WHERE TO SEND IT]: the title, the department, the date, a plain-English summary in 3 bullets, who it affects, when it takes effect, any deadline or public consultation date, and the link to the official page. Say clearly if it is only a proposal and not yet law. Ignore items about [TOPICS TO IGNORE]. If nothing new is relevant, send one line: "No new government news on your topics." Keep a running list of every alert in an Excel file and send it to me at the end of each month.
What to change
- [SCHEDULE]: E.g. "weekday at 9:00 Lisbon time" or "Monday at 8:00".
- [OFFICIAL SOURCES]: Official sites, e.g. "the national immigration agency news page, the tax authority's updates page, my city council meeting agendas". Paste the links if you have them.
- [MY TOPICS]: E.g. "work visas for non-EU staff, VAT for small online shops, parking and building permits in my district".
- [WHERE TO SEND IT]: Email, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack or Discord.
- [TOPICS TO IGNORE]: E.g. "defence and foreign affairs", or "nothing".
Example result
- Government news · Monday, October 12
- 2 new items on your topics. Example with fictional announcements.
- 1. New salary threshold for skilled worker visas
- Department: National immigration agency · Published: October 9 · Status: confirmed, not a proposal
- • The minimum salary for a skilled worker visa goes up from next March
- • Applies to new applications. People who already hold the visa keep the old threshold until renewal.
- • Employers must update job offers sent after the change date
- Who it affects: you, if you plan to hire non-EU staff next year
- Takes effect: March 1 · Link: official announcement
- What to do: check whether planned offers meet the new threshold and talk to an immigration adviser for specific cases.
- 2. Public consultation: parking zones in the north district
- Department: City council, transport committee · Published: October 8 · Status: proposal
- • The council proposes paid parking on 14 streets, including yours
- • Residents could apply for a permit
- • A public meeting is planned for November 5
- Deadline to comment: November 20 · Link: consultation page and form
- What to do: reply "draft my comment" if you want to send feedback.
- Skipped
- • 10 announcements on topics outside your list (defence, agriculture, foreign affairs)
- Your monthly file
- All alerts are added to Gov_Alerts_2026.xlsx with date, department, topic, status, deadline and link. The October file arrives on the 31st.
- Summaries are for information. For decisions, read the official text or ask a qualified adviser.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add the official sources and topics you care about.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Your agent checks the sources on schedule and only sends items that match your topics.
- Reply "draft my comment for item 2" or "add the energy ministry" to change it.
Tips for a better result
- Use the official source first: ministry news pages, the official gazette, council agendas. News articles often summarize late or leave out deadlines.
- Ask it to always state "proposal" or "final". Many headlines are about drafts that change before they pass.
- Track deadlines in your calendar: with Google connected, ask it to add consultation closing dates as events.
- For your city, council meeting agendas are where local decisions show up first, often a week before the meeting.
government news alerts: FAQ
- Which government websites can it watch? Any public official page: ministry press releases, official gazettes, regulators, tax and immigration agencies, and city or county council sites, in most countries and languages.
- Can it translate government announcements? Yes. Ask for summaries in your language. For anything legal or official, read the original text or ask a professional, since translations can miss nuance.
- Is this legal advice? No. It summarizes public announcements with links to the source. For decisions about visas, taxes or permits, check with a qualified adviser.
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