Transcript Highlights:

• factor in sectors resulting substantial factor in sectors resulting in<00:22:19.919> great<00
• He added, for the record, that if nonpartisan staff can describe “substantial factor,” or at least note
• Representative Johnson responded that “substantial factor” is a term frequently used, particularly in
• Um,<00:28:14.799> substantial<00:28:15.360> factor<00:28:15.760> is<00:28:16.000
• Johnson said that “substantial factor” does not have to be the sole cause or the only cause of a form

Bills: HF2358, HF3496, HF3504, HF2169, HF3440

Keywords: public safety, coercion, criminal penalties, law enforcement, victim protection, HF3496, supervision abatement, earned compliance credit, earned compliance credits, conditional release, supervised release, corrections, Minnesota Department of Corrections, restitution, willful nonpayment, probation-like supervision, release supervision, community supervision, lifetime conditional release, early termination of supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• are three other enhancements<00:09:03.720> if<00:09:03.880> you<00:09:04.600> substantially
• <00:09:05.320> harm enhancements if you substantially harm enhancements if you substantially
• <00:19:42.679> bodily<00:19:43.039> harm bodily harm or substantial bodily harm bodily
• harm or substantial bodily harm so<00:19:43.919> there's<00:19:44.080> a<00:19:44.320>
• death gross bodily harm or substantial death gross bodily harm or substantial bodily<00:19:58.440

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 7, a broad public safety package that the author said was intended to support law enforcement, keep violent offenders off the street, and increase accountability in the criminal justice system. The bill was described as combining multiple Republican-authored provisions, including tougher penalties for reckless fleeing, making it a crime to be in a stolen vehicle, allowing tracking devices on occupied or fleeing stolen vehicles, increasing penalties for blocking roads and damaging critical infrastructure, raising penalties for assaulting police officers, adding a mandatory minimum for first-degree sex trafficking, and expanding public disclosure around bail, dismissals, sentencing reductions, and sentencing guideline changes. The motion before the committee was to pass the bill and re-refer it to Ways and Means. Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher testified in support, focusing on aggravated fleeing, occupied stolen vehicles, vehicle tracking, and the impact of the state’s raised age of delinquency on younger offenders. He argued that law enforcement needs more tools to pursue and arrest repeat offenders, especially in auto theft and carjacking cases, and said the bill would help officers intervene before stolen vehicles are used in more crimes. He also urged reconsideration of the timeline for the delinquency-age change, warning that it could limit police options with 11- and 12-year-olds involved in stolen cars. Shane Mey of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association also supported the bill, citing rising assaults on officers and the need for stronger penalties for fleeing, stolen-vehicle offenses, and assaults on peace officers and corrections officers. He said the proposed stolen-vehicle and tracking provisions would improve safety and help officers address juvenile auto theft and dangerous pursuits. Jeff Potts of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association likewise supported several sections, especially the transparency provisions, assault-on-officer penalties, fleeing penalties, the stolen-vehicle offense, and the tracking-device exception, saying the measures align with the association’s agenda and would help address rising crime and pursuit risks. No vote or final committee action was stated in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any national information or data that help substantiate this?
• Is there any national information or data that help substantiate this?
• Is there any national information or data that help substantiate this?
• Is there any national information or data that help substantiate this?
• data or that help substantiate this? data or that help substantiate this?

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:02 Bills for Consideration: 26RS HB 383: 1:03 26RS HB 469: 6:32 26RS HB 586: 14:46 26RS HB 621: 19:58 Adjournment: 28:32, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education met and first considered House Bill 383, which concerns military-connected students with IEPs and 504 plans. The sponsor explained that the bill, as amended by a committee substitute and then a committee amendment, is intended to emphasize Kentucky’s priority for military children and to have their existing or new plans adopted within 30 days of arrival to the greatest extent possible, while documenting cases where that is not possible. Members spoke in support, including references to military families who would benefit. The committee adopted the substitute and amendment and then passed HB 383 favorably to the House floor with the committee substitute attached. The committee next heard House Bill 469, which would require school board candidates to undergo a background check and can test before appearing on the ballot. The sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns about school board access to children and school buildings, and that the cost would be paid by the candidate. Members asked about the criteria for disqualification and the open records exemption; the sponsor said the background check would use existing pass-fail criteria and the records exemption would protect candidates from embarrassment if they failed. The committee passed HB 469 favorably with the committee substitute attached. House Bill 586 was then considered, clarifying that sunscreen is not a medication in schools. The sponsor and a student advocate testified that some districts treat sunscreen as an over-the-counter medication, limiting student use without a provider order, and argued the bill would help prevent sunburn and skin cancer by allowing students to use sunscreen more freely. Members praised the advocacy and asked about the medication issue; the sponsor said the concern came from dermatology stakeholders. The committee passed HB 586 favorably to the House floor. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 621, which would move special education caseload and class-size limits from regulation into statute. The sponsor said the bill responds to proposed Department of Education changes that worried special education teachers, would slightly increase class-size maximums when a paraprofessional is present, and would not affect waiver procedures, preschool caseloads, or speech-language pathologist caseloads. Members asked about the rationale and supporting data for the limits; the sponsor said there are no federal guidelines and the bill was meant to preserve current regulatory numbers. The committee passed HB 621 favorably to the House floor, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a substantial amendment. What does the bill do now?
• I mean, do you think it's substantial, a little bit? Do you have any way to gauge that at all?
• Of that number, I think 27 or 28 was substantiated in terms of child abuse, child neglect.
• Of that number, I think 27 or 28 was substantiated in terms of child abuse, child neglect.
• , ...substantiated as of today.

Bills: HR267, HCR105, HCR107, HCR110, HCR113, HCR114, SB4, SB52, SB57, SB145, SB152, SB194, SB237, SB333, SB433, SB483, SCR37

Keywords: diabetes, amputation, amputations, diabetic foot ulcer, peripheral artery disease, PAD, wound care, podiatry, vascular disease, endocrinology, limb salvage, health policy, public health, healthcare costs, insurance coverage, Louisiana Department of Health, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana Center for Health Innovation, patient education, screening

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a substantial amendment. What does the bill do now?
• I mean, do you think it's substantial, a little bit? Do you have any way to gauge that at all?
• Of that number, I think 27 or 28 was substantiated in terms of child abuse, child neglect.
• Of that number, I think 27 or 28 were substantiated in terms of child abuse, child neglect.
• The baby that died in substantiated as of to date.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 145, which would require adult residential care providers, especially assisted living centers, to have generators or other backup power arrangements and to submit preparedness plans to LDH. After technical amendments and testimony from the sponsor, LDH, and the assisted living industry clarifying the bill’s scope and cost concerns, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. It then took up SB 433, which would require Medicaid coverage of medically necessary FDA-approved weight loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications, subject to appropriations and fiscally sustainable coverage criteria; the bill was reported favorably after discussion of current Medicaid coverage and costs. The committee also approved SB 52, which requires better coordination between DCFS and LDH so SNAP and Medicaid benefits can follow children more quickly when they are removed from or returned to a home. Technical amendments changed reporting deadlines and required written notice, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 4 on public water fluoridation was amended to allow local governments or voters to opt out through a petition and election process, with support from the Louisiana Dental Association and others after compromise language was adopted; it was reported favorably with amendments. SB 152, which would prohibit the sale of cultured or lab-grown food products for human consumption, was also reported favorably with amendments after brief testimony in support and opposition. The committee next approved SCR 37, which asks the Surgeon General to review Louisiana’s informed consent laws and report back on any gaps, after discussion that the existing medical disclosure panel had not met since 2018. It then considered SB 194, a public assistance bill aligning Louisiana Medicaid and SNAP rules with recent federal changes on non-citizen eligibility and tightening Medicaid’s reasonable opportunity period for citizenship verification. After extensive debate over immigration, emergency care, and whether the bill could harm eligible applicants or rural hospitals, the committee adopted an amendment allowing LDH discretion for emergency health care services and reported the bill favorably by an 8-3 vote. Finally, HCR 113 created a task force to study gestational carrier agreements and assisted reproductive regulation; after debate over surrogacy, ethics, and referral to Civil Law, the committee rejected the referral motion and then reported the resolution favorably, and the meeting moved on to SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and legal representation funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, that 200 folks that walk in for that long-term homeowners is pretty equivalent to the office that
• is<01:02:43.280> pretty long-term homeowners is pretty long-term homeowners is pretty equivalent
• 44.799> office<01:02:45.040> that<01:02:45.359> has<01:02:45.599> 21 equivalent
• to the office that has 21 equivalent to the office that has 21 folks<01:02:46.720> and<01:02:

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you were to take that amount of students and encompass it in a particular district, that is the equivalent
• <04:11:35.520> the particular district, that is the particular district, that is the equivalent
• > the<04:11:36.800> entire<04:11:37.279> Thompson<04:11:37.760> R2J equivalent
• of the entire Thompson R2J equivalent of the entire Thompson R2J school<04:11:38.800> district

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened for Military Appreciation Day with a color guard presentation, the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance led by military veterans, and a quorum call. The journal from the prior day was approved, and the chamber then moved out of order to consider a series of resolutions honoring military service and veterans. All of the resolutions taken up in this segment were adopted by recorded vote, generally with unanimous support and no opposing votes, with several members named as co-sponsors after passage. The first resolutions recognized military service broadly and by community: HJR 1004 honored military members, veterans, POWs, MIAs, and Gold Star families; HJR 1005 recognized African-American veterans; HJR 1006 recognized Latina and Latino veterans; HJR 1007 honored Native American veterans and communities; HJR 1008 honored women veterans and women serving in the armed forces; HJR 1009 focused on veterans mental health awareness and proclaimed Military and Veterans Appreciation Day; HJR 1010 honored Colorado veterans of the Vietnam War; HJR 1011 marked the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II and honored Colorado veterans who served in that war; and HJR 1012 honored Korean War veterans. Each was adopted with overwhelming support, typically 59 or 60 ayes and no no votes. The chamber also adopted HJR 1013 honoring Persian Gulf War veterans, HJR 1014 honoring post-9/11 veterans, HJR 1015 recognizing the 58th anniversary of the capture of the USS Pueblo and calling for its return, and HJR 1016 honoring the 10th Mountain Division and Camp Hale. After the votes, the House recessed for sponsor remarks. Speakers from both chambers and invited guests gave tributes emphasizing sacrifice, family service, historical discrimination faced by African-American and Latino veterans, the contributions of Native American code talkers and tribal communities, the importance of mental health support for veterans, and remembrance of Gold Star families and those lost in war.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sure whatever it is, as long as the equivalent amount, but that is the existing law." record, Chris
• I'm sure whatever it is as long as know, I'm sure whatever it is as long as the<02:13:05.280> equivalent
• 06.000> but<02:13:06.239> that<02:13:06.400> is<02:13:06.480> the the equivalent
• amount, but that is the the equivalent amount, but that is the existing<02:13:07.119> law.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• an organization to say, and we don't want you making referrals for that care, because that's the equivalent
• referrals for that care because<04:13:19.720> that's<04:13:20.119> the<04:13:20.319> equivalent
• <04:13:21.239> and<04:13:21.399> here because that's the equivalent and here because
• that's the equivalent and here you<04:13:21.720> could<04:13:21.960> say<04:13:22.520>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 148, which would allow classification by biological sex in limited circumstances such as multi-use bathrooms, certain athletic events, and involuntary commitment facilities. Supporters argued the bill was needed to protect privacy and safety, especially for women and girls, and said it was consistent with recent federal actions and prior legislation. Opponents said the bill lacked a clear definition of biological sex, could create confusion and discrimination, and was unnecessary because existing law and sports rules already address the issues raised. After debate, the committee voted 10-8 to recommend ought to pass on HB 148. The chair asked for a majority report and noted that a minority report would likely be filed. The committee then considered HB 254, a bill related to end-of-life medical decision-making. Supporters framed it as a matter of liberty and relief from suffering for terminally ill patients, while opponents raised moral objections, concerns about suicide being normalized, and worries about deceptive wording and death-certificate reporting. HB 254 was approved on an 11-7 vote for ought to pass, with the chair indicating he would write the majority report and Representative Perez the minority report. The committee then moved to HB 611 with Amendment 2025-0638, a replace-all amendment restoring prior law on recoupment of appointed-counsel costs from indigent criminal defendants and juveniles. The chair explained the amendment as reversing 2020 changes that had limited cost recovery, and the discussion focused on financial affidavits and the Office of Cost Containment’s ability to review indigency claims. The transcript cuts off before the committee vote on HB 611.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those costs have ballooned and they are a substantial part of fares.
• inefficiency is largely attributable to inflated attorney representative claims, often involving substantial
• In fact, the study found that drivers' take home substantially decreased while Uber or it was specific
• on Uber, their take home of what they were charging substantially increased.
• For Ubers, Lyfts, just ride shares in general have gone up pretty substantially.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's a fairly substantial rate increase in the cost within that program.
• The executive has substantially greater access caseloads across all four years.
• The executive has substantially greater access caseloads across all four years.
• So to acquire that property, I imagine it's a substantial amount.
• So to acquire that property, I imagine a substantial amount of that. Yeah. I mean, Mr.

Bills: SB1024, SB1032, SB1059, SB1062, SB1064, SB1097, SCM1001, SCR1004

Keywords: roadable aircraft, registration, vehicle title, license plates, aviation safety, corrections oversight, funding, state budget, criminal justice, reform, appropriation, Department of Transportation, right turn lane, traffic improvement, infrastructure funding, transportation funding, authorization, road improvements, intersection safety, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• continue, or the police department can continue to do that, or in the case B is prevent an immediate substantial
• continue or the police department can continue to do that or in the case B is prevent an in a minute substantial
• Additionally, on B there, it's used to prevent an imminent, substantial risk of bodily injury or death
• that if the human being were to go neutralize whatever the threat was, the human being would be substantially
• It means designed and manufactured objects, substance, or weapon that does not create a substantial risk

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard House Bill 1582, a study bill on false accusations and false reports of a crime. The sponsor argued the issue is broad but important, citing concerns about weaponized accusations in custody, civil, and political disputes and saying the study should gather statistics on how often these offenses are charged and prosecuted. Testimony in support came from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the North Dakota Association for Justice, both describing cases where false domestic-violence allegations or false reports caused arrests, jail time, and court burdens, while noting the difficulty of finding statistics or examples of prosecutions. Members questioned the bill’s scope, and the committee amended it to narrow the study to North Dakota Century Code Chapter 12.1 before giving it a do pass recommendation by roll call vote. The committee then took up House Bill 1613, which addresses autonomous vehicles, robots, and law enforcement use of technology. The sponsor explained the amendment was intended to create definitions for autonomous, remote, lethal, and less-than-lethal systems, while preserving current law enforcement tools such as body cameras, license plate readers, and other cameras, and requiring warrants or use-of-force policies in certain situations. Testimony and discussion focused on ensuring humans remain involved in decisions to deploy weapons, limiting autonomous use of lethal force, and clarifying how drones and other devices could be used for surveillance or emergency response. After discussion of concerns from law enforcement, technology, and other stakeholders, the committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended by roll call vote. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1499, which would make home addresses and telephone numbers of federal judges, magistrate judges, and U.S. Supreme Court justices confidential under state open-records law. The sponsor and the Attorney General’s office said the bill would extend protections already given to state judges and other justice-system employees, noting increased threats to judges and explaining that federal law does not fully protect these records in state files. With no opposition offered, the committee gave the bill a do pass recommendation and then adjourned after noting it had completed action on all 122 bills before it, with only two conference committees remaining.

Transcript Highlights:

• related to the district's USFR non-compliance status, including its history of non-compliance and the substantial
• If at the end of the 90 days, we have determined a district has not made substantial...
• If at the end of the 90 days we have determined a district has not made substantial progress in correcting
• the 90-day period, which can result in the district coming out of non-compliance if it corrects a substantial
• While the district has substantially complied with the USFR, the district's auditor still noted some

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I think we need to do is collect information that substantiates it.
• information that that substantiates it. information that that substantiates it.
• <00:58:27.440> some<00:58:27.599> of<00:58:27.760> the substantiates some of the
• substantiates some of the recommendations<00:58:28.559> in<00:58:28.799> Representative
• that as something substantiating that as something substantiating what<01:12:43.840> Representative

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The New Hampshire House Special Committee on the COVID Response Efficacy met to continue its fact-finding review of the state’s pandemic response, with the chair restating the committee’s mission and focus on federal guidance, federal funding, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID, patient rights, and vaccination policies. The chair said the committee had previously reviewed materials about the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear a COVID vaccine case and CDC internal emails about vaccine risks, and introduced additional research on CDC testing and communications failures. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to summarizing articles and a recent U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report titled *Unmasked: How Biden Health Officials Purposely Turned a Blind Eye Toward COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Signals*. The chair argued that CDC testing and guidance were flawed, citing delayed data publication, confusing guidance, a faulty early COVID test, missed opportunities to study silent spread, and alleged suppression of safety information. The Senate report was described as alleging that FDA and CDC officials knew their surveillance systems could mask vaccine safety signals, that officials discouraged internal analysis from being shared externally, and that newer analytical methods identified multiple statistically significant adverse-event signals. The chair also discussed the V-safe system, VAERS, and claims that federal officials downplayed or concealed adverse-event data. Members and the chair connected these federal issues to New Hampshire, noting changes in the state’s health care landscape since the pandemic, including more urgent care facilities and satellite ERs. The chair suggested New Hampshire should develop independent scientific assessment resources to validate federal information in future emergencies. Representative Wheeler noted that the materials would be entered into the committee record and made available on the House website. No votes were taken; the committee discussed the materials, invited further questions, and indicated that a proposed committee communication would be revisited later after additional supporting information is gathered, with a goal of issuing a statement by the end of June.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and they got substantial kickbacks for doing that.
• Um and they got<00:29:00.480> substantial<00:29:01.080> kickbacks<00:29:01.679> for<
• /c><00:29:01.800> doing got substantial kickbacks for doing got substantial kickbacks for doing
• greater return than is substantially greater return than what<00:51:35.480> we<00:51:35.600><
• <01:50:50.560> progress HS has already made substantial progress HS has already made substantial

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or non-substantial.
• <00:41:28.560> or changes is substantial or changes is substantial or non-substantial<00:41
• um if there are non-substantial um if there are substantial<00:41:32.720> changes<00:41:33.200
• changes it has to go back substantial changes it has to go back out<00:41:34.839> um<00:41:35.000
• will increase spending substantially will increase spending substantially more<00:59:19.680>

Bills: HF1419, HF500

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a substantially different intent and purpose and accomplishes a different end.
• amendment uh relates to a substantially amendment uh relates to a substantially different<01:12:
• <01:12:14.719> different accomplish a substantially different accomplish a substantially different
• The A32 is intended to accomplish a substantially different purpose than the underlying resolution that
• It is not a substantially different. It is not a different<01:39:11.679> topic.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I recommend the city of Gum Springs for substantial noncompliance with municipal accounting law under
• We were planning to discuss the substantial noncompliance and start the 60-day clock as well for the
• Chair, is also for consideration of substantial noncompliance with municipal accounting law.
• We were planning to discuss the substantial noncompliance and start the 60-day clock as well for the
• Chair, is also for consideration of substantial noncompliance with municipal accounting law.

Summary: The committee began with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. Staff reported that 19 of 43 original entities for the 2022 reporting year had had turnback reinstated, while 24 remained in escrow; for the 2023 reporting year, 59 of 64 entities had filed, leaving five still outstanding. The committee also heard that Adona had come into substantial compliance with municipal accounting law, and it voted to file that report and discontinue withholding turnback. It then voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report for Gum Springs after hearing repeated findings involving budgeting, disbursements, payroll, and Act 833 funds, with city officials saying they had begun correcting records and were seeking help from the Municipal League and a city attorney. Fargo was deferred because the mayor was absent due to illness. The committee next considered Denning, where staff described repeated and serious accounting problems over 2022-2024, including unauthorized payments, missing documentation, weak payroll controls, and improper handling of funds. The mayor and recorder-treasurer said prior records were disorganized and that they were now working with an attorney, CPA help, and new software; the committee voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report. Green Forest’s report, involving a fixed-asset listing issue after the mayor’s death, was filed. Several private water and sewer reports were either filed or deferred depending on whether responses had been received, and the committee announced its March meeting would be held in Room 149 because of renovations. The committee then reviewed a series of referred reports involving alleged financial irregularities. In Elaine, the fire chief’s questionable purchases were referred and filed. In Strong, staff described undeposited garbage-bag receipts, improper payments for private dumpster service and other expenditures, payroll tax penalties, and deficit fund balances; the mayor said controls had been improved, but the committee deferred the report to March. The Faulkner County Fair Association report found undocumented cash withdrawals, questionable disbursements, and inadequately documented cash payments to a carnival vendor; the committee filed it. Brooklyn’s report involved a fraudulent direct-deposit change, and Mineral Springs’ report involved transfers from the cemetery fund, employee loans, overpayments, and travel reimbursement issues; both were filed. Additional reports included Rondo, where the recorder-treasurer explained missing computers and fuel purchases tied to personal vehicles, and the committee filed the report; Waldo, where the mayor had been overpaid due to extra biweekly payments, which was filed; Columbia County, where a floodplain management contract lacked an authorizing ordinance, which was filed; and several private water-system reports, some filed and others deferred for lack of responses. Carlisle’s report showed large but improving misstatements in financial records, and the committee filed it after hearing that new software and training had reduced prior problems. Caddo Valley’s report prompted a lengthy discussion about CDs and interest recognition; staff explained that principal balances should be reflected as city assets and interest should be recorded when earned or reported by the bank, and the report was filed. Prairie County’s budget overrun and road-fund issues were discussed at length, with the judge explaining equipment and weather-related costs and staff clarifying the distinction between road funds and locally approved sales-tax uses; the report was filed. Finally, the committee deferred a Cross County Rural Water Association matter after learning it had not filed with Legislative Audit since 2002-2003 despite receiving significant state funding, and members expressed concern about the long gap in filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you looked at market competition as you reopen the economy back up, substantial competition in
• That substantially improved our competitive position with hiring jobs.
• That substantially improved our competitive position with hiring jobs.
• These are really sophisticated phone calls and need substantial training.
• Fewer people, substantially fewer people, in these major operating programs because there is substantial

Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency vacancy reports and agency-requested budget reductions, with Chair Lopez framing the discussion around stewardship of taxpayer dollars, agency efficiency, and whether long-vacant positions should be cut or repurposed. Members were given vacancy summaries and asked to focus on how agencies are functioning with current staffing, which positions are mission critical, and whether some vacancies reflect market pay issues, re-engineering of work, or true excess capacity. The chair also noted that agency heads had been asked to provide follow-up information on current openings, average vacancy duration, mission-critical roles, and reasons for vacancies. The Department of Revenue was the first major agency reviewed because it had the largest number of vacancies. Its leadership said vacancies had improved from pandemic-era highs due to market pay adjustments, but that some areas—especially general tax and audit—still had long-term openings. The department explained that some positions are intentionally frozen while work is restructured, that it hires above minimum salary in some cases to stay competitive, and that it is using automation and process changes to reduce backlogs. Members raised concerns about vacancies outside Leon County, out-of-state auditor positions, salary compression, and whether the department should provide a list of frozen positions and the salaries actually needed to recruit. The Department of Financial Services said its long vacancies were concentrated in risk management, law enforcement, and the general counsel’s office, where salaries and competition from private employers and other agencies make hiring difficult. DFS said it was using outside vendors in some areas, had reduced vacancies in its general counsel office significantly, and was willing to identify positions that could be cut, including some from treasury and OAT. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation reported progress in lowering vacancies through statewide recruiting, centralized legal hiring, automation in service operations, and leadership changes in alcoholic beverages and tobacco; it said one recommended cut could be achieved by combining two half-time positions. The Florida Lottery reported a low vacancy rate, said all positions were critical, and explained its longer onboarding time due to extensive background checks; members discussed sales reps, incentives, and the agency’s field-office structure. The Office of Financial Regulation said many of its vacancies were already in the hiring pipeline, with recent vacancies tied to promotions, a death, and internal moves, and noted that it often serves as a training ground for federal agencies. The Office of Insurance Regulation, which had a high vacancy rate concentrated in Leon County, said it had been reducing vacancies from a much higher level and was still working through hiring and administrative constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:58:36.960> relief out of which they got substantial relief out of which they got substantial
• You'll see the CI rate has had the most variation over time and is substantially higher than the rates
• variation over time and is substantially variation over time and is substantially higher<01:11:00.360
• <01:24:45.239> above property at substantially above property at substantially above agricultural
• increase we've seen in the substantial increase we've seen in Lakeshore<01:37:44.040> land<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all