Transcript Highlights:

• researching the expanded tools for search databases related to friends 6 that could range from fingerprints
• The fingerprint based data maintaining this repository is access by criminal justice in on criminal justice
• Fda Lee's biometric identification solution also known as biz handles the storage and fingerprint things
• The data this repository includes criminal, an applicant, a fingerprint and palm print images in criminal
• This system uses a combination of automated and manual matching fingerprints and palm prints of no new

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is HB 991, which clarifies that the Department of the Attorney General may conduct fingerprint-based
• 14:59.360><c> general</c><00:14:59.600><c> May</c><00:14:59.800><c> conduct</c><00:15:00.120><c> fingerprint
• This clarifies Department of the Attorney General may conduct fingerprint-based background checks through
• 26:43.960><c> General</c><00:26:44.279><c> May</c><00:26:44.440><c> conduct</c><00:26:44.720><c> fingerprint
• </c> Attorney General May conduct fingerprint Attorney General May conduct fingerprint based<00:26:45.640

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee continued hearing several bills. HB 399 would create an additional district court judgeship in the First Circuit; it drew support from the Judiciary, Public Defender, State Bar, Financial Services Association, and others, and there was no opposition. HB 560 would appropriate funds for Judiciary contracts with community-based organizations; many service providers and coalition representatives testified in support, emphasizing the growing gap between contract payments and the actual cost of services, especially for domestic violence, youth, legal aid, and other vulnerable populations. HB 648 would establish a two-year pilot program in the First Circuit probate and family court for guardianship and conservatorship-related resources; the Office of the Public Guardian and disability advocates supported it, while suggesting amendments to clarify that the bill refers to professional evaluations, including psychological, neurocognitive, or functional evaluations, rather than just physicians’ letters. The committee also heard HB 990, which appropriates funds for claims against the state, with the Attorney General noting 21 claims totaling about $6.5 million plus two additional resolved claims and requesting corrections to identify two matters as judgments rather than settlements. HB 991 would clarify that the Attorney General may conduct FBI fingerprint-based background checks on contractors and employees; it was supported by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and others, with an amendment to include subcontractors. HB 998 would provide that omissions or errors in citations do not require dismissal or reversal if they do not prejudice the defendant; the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and members discussed whether the language adequately protects due process and how it would apply when identifying information is unavailable. Finally, HB 1174 would address payment-under-protest lawsuits by allowing interest earned on certain funds to be paid in non-taxation cases if the claimant prevails and by setting procedures for premature filings. After testimony, the committee moved into decision-making and recommended passage of HB 399, HB 560, HB 648, HB 990, HB 991, HB 998, and HB 1174, generally with amendments where noted, including effective-date changes and the requested clarifications. The measures were adopted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• please: House Bill 2916, enacting Section 28-3-413, relating to traffic schools and instructors, fingerprint
• Technology, having under consideration House Bill 2916, relating to traffic schools and instructors, fingerprint
• You have under consideration House Bill 2916, relating to traffic schools and instructors, fingerprint
• This aligns this with the other fingerprinting where people are allowed to start working.
• Title 41, Chapter 12, Article 3.1, as advised, statute by adding section 41-1758.09, relating to fingerprint

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or up to every few seconds, your smart television is taking a very small snapshot or video audio fingerprint
• video</c><00:10:49.680><c> audio</c> small snapshot or video audio small snapshot or video audio fingerprint
• ><c> what</c><00:10:51.720><c> you're</c><00:10:51.840><c> watching</c><00:10:52.720><c> at</c> fingerprint
• of what you're watching at fingerprint of what you're watching at home<00:10:53.360><c> or</c><00:10
• These aren't full recordings, but rather extracting a digital fingerprint.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:21 HB 480 Discussion: 01:40 HB 480 Voting: 02:36 HB 577 Discussion: 05:14 HB 577 Voting: 08:38 HB 692 Discussion: 09:23 HB 692 Voting: 14:00 HB 869 Discussion: 15:21 HB 869 Voting: 18:56, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One, it says that, uh, they would have to go through fingerprints and that sort of thing.
• I don't know that I'm reading the fingerprints piece in here and I need to go back and look at that.
• OK, yeah, I did see, I think I saw somewhere, yeah, right here, fingerprints.
• And then the the fingerprint is on page 9 starting on line 4.
• I don't know that we need to do the license, the fingerprints for the volunteers.

Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Transcript Highlights:

• So at booking they took his fingerprints. They took his photographs.
• So at booking they took his<00:15:36.399><c> fingerprints.
• They took his his fingerprints.
• They compare it to fingerprinting. So, we went to trial, and he is in prison for 137.5 years.
• </c><00:20:27.919><c> or</c> with taking someone's fingerprints or with taking someone's fingerprints

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:02 Roll Call 00:00:23 HB 414 Discussion 00:01:58 HB 414 Vote 00:22:34 HB 43 Discussion 00:24:56 HB 43 Vote 00:26:37 HB 518 Discussion 00:27:37 HB 518 Vote 00:45:20 Adjournment 00:46:35, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fingerprints and what else? Fingerprints, photos, palm prints, iris scans, retinal scans.
• ,</c><03:16:26.960><c> photos,</c> you've got to get fingerprints, photos, you've got to get fingerprints
• </c> &gt;&gt; We got I got to get fingerprints. &gt;&gt; We got I got to get fingerprints.
• Fingerprints and what else? &gt;&gt; Yep. Fingerprints and what else?
• 17:02.880><c> iris</c> Fingerprints, photos, palm prints, iris Fingerprints, photos, palm prints, iris

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• involve an extensive list of requirements for a new applicant, including proficiency training, fingerprinting
• process but seeks to protect the holder from the burden of going through that entire process of fingerprinting
• Fingerprinting, proficiency with a gun, etc.

Bills: HB668, HB677, HB766, HB3133, SB3070

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:10:30.480><c> by</c> districts, you must be fingerprinted by districts, you must be fingerprinted
• </c><01:10:38.480><c> in</c> our employees has been fingerprinted in our employees has been fingerprinted
• But then you'd be waiting on the fingerprints. period for students.
• I mean, 70 fingerprints is a lot. Um, so I do have some written testimony that I...
• </c> 70 fingerprints is a lot. 70 fingerprints is a lot.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not expand background checks or require fingerprinting.
• So currently the law says that a child may be photographed or fingerprinted in connection with being
• What this would simply say is that a child shall be photographed and fingerprinted in connection with
• There were no body cams, not a lot of surveillance, DNA, fingerprints, all things that are a part of
• There were no body cams, not a lot of surveillance, DNA, fingerprints, all things that are a part of

Summary: The committee first approved the April 28 minutes and announced that Senate Bill 499 was voluntarily deferred. It then heard several House bills, beginning with HB 168, a reentry/transitional housing program for female parolees near release; supporters said it would improve public safety and reduce recidivism, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 322, a cleanup bill from the Maggie Grace Act clarifying that victims or families requesting transcripts would not be charged, was also reported favorably without objection. HB 622, which aligns Louisiana criminal history information practices with federal rules, was amended and then reported favorably. HB 821, moving the School for Safe Centers from GOSEP to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, was reported favorably as well. The committee then took up HB 364, which directs State Police to partner on public awareness efforts about the illegality of discharging firearms, especially around holidays. An amendment removed a proposed printing cost and shifted the bill toward PSAs; the bill was reported favorably with amendments. HB 568, which strengthens enforcement of drug-free school zone laws by creating a clearer offense for openly smoking or vaping illegal drugs in school zones and setting a specific penalty for marijuana, drew extensive debate. Supporters, including the author and governor’s office, said it was needed to protect children and families and to give law enforcement a workable deterrent. Opponents argued it would impose harsh, geography-based penalties, sweep in medical cannabis patients and veterans, and worsen racial and fiscal disparities. After roll-call, the committee reported HB 568 favorably by a 3-2 vote. The committee also approved HB 296, a cleanup bill removing long-defunct programs from statute, without objection. HB 823, creating an Orleans Parish DA pilot diversion program for unhoused people accused of nonviolent offenses, was supported by Covenant House and others as a way to avoid criminalizing homelessness and was reported favorably without objection. Finally, HB 1038, a major bill revising the authority and liability structure of city marshals and local governments, prompted extensive testimony. The bill and amendments would limit some marshal powers in smaller jurisdictions, require local approval for certain staffing/insurance matters, and allow local governments to restore powers by ordinance. Supporters said it would reduce liability, clarify authority, and address problems in some marshal offices; opponents, including multiple marshals and law enforcement supporters, said it would undermine elected marshals, hurt small offices, and was too broad and under-studied. The transcript ends amid that hearing, with no final committee action shown on HB 1038.

Transcript Highlights:

• Secondly, on lines 83 through 88, we've got a bill here that would change the fingerprinting requirements
• Um, your fingerprints don't change, senators.
• Secondly, on lines 83 through 88, we've got a bill here that would change the fingerprinting requirements
• Um, your fingerprints don't change, senators.
• Um, your fingerprints don't change, senators. fingerprints always the same.

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 409, 2 February, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• involve an extensive list of requirements for a new applicant, including proficiency training, fingerprinting
• process, but seeks to protect the holder from the burden of going through that entire process of fingerprinting
• ... ...the holder from the burden of going through that entire process of fingerprinting, proficiency

Bills: HB668, HB677, HB766, HB3133, SB3070

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Summary: The committee met to hear several bills, beginning with House Bill 766, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both on their applications while keeping that contact information confidential. No one testified for or against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 677, a companion to a previously approved Senate bill, would bar county election administrators from simultaneously holding another office or position appointed by an elected official; it also drew no public testimony and was left pending. Members then heard House Bill 3133, which would add explicit deepfake material to the list of content social media platforms must handle through complaint systems, including prompt acknowledgment, investigation, and status updates. Senators discussed concerns about how platforms would verify whether reported content was actually a deepfake, and the sponsor indicated the bill may be held pending while federal law on the subject is reviewed. House Bill 668 would create a one-year grace period for renewing an expired Texas handgun license to carry, codifying an existing DPS practice; it also received no testimony and was left pending. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 3070, a major overhaul of the Texas Lottery system. The bill would move oversight from the Lottery Commission to TDLR, dissolve the commission, impose new restrictions on ticket sales and internet play, create a lottery advisory committee, increase transparency and audit requirements, and include a sunset review that could lead to abolishing the lottery if not continued by 2027. The author described the bill as a response to alleged misconduct and illegal practices by the commission, while a witness from the Christian Life Commission testified in favor, supporting changes to prize anonymity and other lottery restrictions. After testimony, the bill was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Technology, having under consideration HB 2916, relating to traffic schools and instructors and fingerprint
• You have under consideration HB 2916, relating to traffic schools and instructors and fingerprint clearance
• This aligns this with the other fingerprinting where people are allowed to start working.
• Mining Title 41, Chapter 12, Article 3.1, as advised, statute by in section 41-17-5809, relating to fingerprint

Summary: The Senate met in floor session, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and then moved through several Committee of the Whole calendars considering a range of House bills and one concurrent resolution. On the first calendar, members considered HB 2192 on employment/video content matters of public concern, HB 2592 on government information technology and AI-related rulemaking, HB 2752 on the Arizona Commerce Authority trade office, HB 2916 on traffic schools and fingerprint clearance, and HB 2946 on development fees. Amendments were adopted on HB 2192, HB 2592, HB 2916, and HB 2946; HB 2752 received a Mesnard amendment, but an Epstein amendment failed on division after a 7-14 vote. All of those bills were reported out do pass, with HB 2752 retained on the calendar after amendment consideration. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. On later calendars, the Senate advanced HB 2918, HB 2999 on infrastructure finance districts/special taxing districts, HB 1418 on county officers/sheriff authority, HCR 259 supporting county sheriffs, HB 2035 on child welfare placement/reporting, HB 241 on child neglect, HB 2594 on court trust confidentiality, HB 2932 on groundwater transportation fees, HB 2109 on distracted driving penalties for motorcycles, HB 2118 on mobile food vendor licenses, HB 2244 on eviction satisfaction of judgment, HB 4011 on HOA duties, and HB 2440 on a transition program. Several bills were amended, including HB 2999, which drew discussion about tax rates, bond coverage, and infrastructure district financing; an Epstein objection focused on homeowner cost uncertainty, but the bill ultimately advanced. HB 2035, HB 2594, HB 2932, HB 2109, HB 2118, HB 2244, HB 4011, and HB 2440 all received do pass recommendations, with some technical or conforming amendments adopted along the way. The Senate also adopted a proclamation recognizing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on its centennial anniversary and welcomed university representatives and students in the gallery. The chamber granted the House’s request to return SB 1113 for further amendment and appointed free conference committees for HB 2133 and HB 2010. Final third-reading votes passed HB 2592, HB 2916, HB 2946, and HB 2999, with recorded roll-call results showing HB 2592 passed 16-9 with 11 not voting, HB 2916 passed 26-1 with 3 not voting, HB 2946 passed 27-0 with 3 not voting, and HB 2999 passed 21-6 with 3 not voting. The Senate then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• the fingerprint vendor to actually<00:58:24.599><c> select</c><00:58:24.920><c> a</c><00:58:25.160><
• I have two quick questions on background checks and fingerprinting specifically, and then I have another
• </c><01:09:25.120><c> specific</c> checks and fingerprinting specific checks and fingerprinting specific
• and fingerprinting still remain within<01:09:39.759><c> DHS</c><01:09:40.520><c> is</c><01:09:40.719
• But I heard you say that since 2018 DHS has been covering the costs of fingerprinting and background

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• department, sheriff's office, or the government agency for identification processing, including fingerprinting
• department, sheriff's office, or the government agency for identification processing, including fingerprinting
• government agency for identification processing<00:02:17.599><c> including</c><00:02:18.000><c> fingerprint

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met to take up several House bills and adopted recommendations on a number of them. HB 111, which would authorize civil claims against persons or businesses profiting from sexual exploitation or sex trafficking and extend the civil statute of limitations to 10 years, was recommended to pass unamended after discussion with the Attorney General’s office. HB 54, increasing penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses, was recommended to pass with the Attorney General’s first suggested amendment requiring identification processing, including fingerprinting and photographing, for convicted violators unless already done. HB 70, dealing with condominium budget summaries and reserve requirements, was recommended to pass as amended, and HB 320, allowing supported decision-making agreements for qualified adults including those with disabilities, mental illness, or age 65 and older, was also recommended to pass as amended. These recommendations were adopted without objection, though some members noted reservations on HB 54 and HB 70. HB 239, which would clarify that inability to provide certain needs to a child due solely to lack of financial resources does not constitute abuse or neglect, was deferred to Thursday, April 3, at 10:00 a.m. HB 359, concerning covered offender registration and a proposed exemption related to sexual assault in the fourth degree, was recommended to pass with amendments deleting section 2 after concerns that the current statute already covers the issue and that the added language would create a title problem by addressing two topics. The committee adopted that recommendation. HB 412, establishing presumptions and expanding lobbying-related definitions for certain communications with government officials, was recommended to pass with an added clarification excluding purely informational, ceremonial, or routine relationship-building communications from the presumption; that recommendation was also adopted. HB 472, which would allow digitized identification cards to be accepted as valid identification and authorize law enforcement agencies to accept them under certain circumstances, was not decided. After a recess, the chair announced that everything after HB 412 would be deferred to Thursday, the 27th, at 10:30 p.m. in room 016, and the remaining items were postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Contreras, I explained that my criminal was caught because the California notaries take a fingerprint
• The key to a stiffer penalty is to identify the criminal with a fingerprint and make the act of recording
• The key to a stiffer penalty is to identify the criminal with a fingerprint and make the act of recording
• So the fact that there's a video of the suspects is extremely helpful, almost as helpful as a fingerprint

Summary: The House Committee on Government heard and advanced several bills. SB 1479 would require photo identification for certain documents recorded at county recorder offices, add identifying measures for notarized real property documents, and increase the penalty for knowingly submitting a false claim or forgery related to real property from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 5 felony. Testimony from a deed fraud victim, county assessors, the Attorney General’s office, and an online notary representative emphasized the bill’s role in preventing deed fraud; the chair also said he would run a floor amendment to tighten the ID-recording provisions. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1479 a due pass recommendation. SB 1473 would prohibit counties and municipalities from capping the number of residents in assisted living homes, restricting such homes on residentially zoned property, or requiring extra administrative documents based solely on resident count. Supporters from the Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association and a Paradise Valley operator said local occupancy reductions from 10 beds to 6 could force closures, worsen the shortage of senior care beds, and undermine affordable residential care; members discussed parking concerns and the growing need for assisted living. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1473 a due pass recommendation. The committee also considered SB 1663, which creates a Freedom of Speech Monument Committee to nominate two deceased individuals each year for the Freedom of Speech Monument and allows placement of a monument in the governmental mall. After limited testimony, including one opponent, the committee voted 4-1 to advance the bill. Finally, SB 1686, which would rename Wesley Bolin Plaza the Wesley Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza and authorize memorials for Charlie Kirk and Don Bowles, drew extended debate and an unsuccessful amendment to separate the Charlie Kirk and Don Bowles provisions. After testimony for and against, the committee voted 4-3 to give SB 1686 a due pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Contreras, I explained that my criminal was... ...caught because the California notaries take a fingerprint
• The key to a stiffer penalty is to identify the criminal with a fingerprint and make the act of recording
• The key to a stiffer penalty is to identify the criminal with a fingerprint and make the act of recording
• So the fact that there's a video of the suspects is extremely helpful, almost as helpful as a fingerprint

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the federal government will require anybody who accesses federal tax information to have been fingerprinted
• , to have a background check, and conduct fingerprints.
• And so this law, this change in law, simply adds OLA to entities that can do fingerprinting for the purposes
• ,</c><00:02:56.400><c> to</c><00:02:56.440><c> have</c><00:02:56.560><c> a</c> have been fingerprinted
• , to have a have been fingerprinted, to have a background<00:02:57.080><c> check</c><00:02:57.440><c>

Bills: HF4371, HF4317, HF2817, HF3496, HF4151, HF3826, HF4425, HF3990

Keywords: HF4371, Minnesota background checks, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Office of the Legislative Auditor, Legislative Auditor, criminal history records, national criminal history record information, public safety, statutory amendment, section 299C.76, requesting agency, state audit, oversight, background screening, criminal records, county agencies, MNsure, Department of Revenue, Department of Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• The second is an amendment to the FBI fingerprinting requirements.
• This section is amended to update fingerprinting requirements to align with FBI standards for providing
• fingerprinting services.
• the Financial Services Commission, when waiving the requirements for certain persons to submit fingerprints
• of shareholder to the bill’s provisions relating to requirements for certain persons to submit fingerprints

Summary: The committee first took up HB 703 on utility relocation, as amended by a strike-all. The sponsor said the bill would require government authorities that order communication service providers to move infrastructure to pay the relocation costs, clarify expedited timelines, and align the House bill with the Senate version. Supporters argued the communication services tax should help cover these costs, while cities and counties warned the bill would shift major unfunded costs to local governments and taxpayers, especially in fiscally constrained counties. After public testimony from local government and industry representatives and debate over fairness, coordination, and the tax’s intended use, the committee adopted the strike-all and then passed the bill favorably on a roll call vote. The committee then heard and passed CS/HB 379, a securities package updating Chapter 517. The bill and conforming amendment made several technical and policy changes, including expanding certain exemptions, updating foreign jurisdiction and exchange considerations, revising merger-and-acquisition broker rules, aligning fingerprinting requirements with FBI standards, and adding protections related to financial exploitation of specified adults. Industry and Office of Financial Regulation witnesses supported the measure, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably without opposition. Next, the committee passed CS/HB 867 establishing the Coastal Link Commuter Rail Service Act to create a legal framework for commuter rail operations along Florida’s coastal corridor and to help Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties secure insurance and indemnification for service on the Florida East Coast Railway right-of-way. The Florida Chamber supported the bill, and it was reported favorably without debate. The committee also passed CS/HB 1161, which revises Florida’s deepfake law to require covered platforms to remove altered sexual depictions and copies upon request by the victim; the bill drew emotional testimony from a student victim and broad support from members, and a severability amendment was adopted before the bill passed unanimously. The committee then passed CS/HB 453 on pool and spa contractors, which updates Chapter 489 terminology and scope-of-practice rules and, through amendment, limits certain equipment to commercially available products. Finally, the committee passed HB 955 requiring all private employers to use E-Verify for new hires, removing the small-employer exemption. Supporters framed it as workforce integrity and rule-of-law legislation, while opponents warned about labor shortages, burdens on small businesses, and impacts on immigrant workers. After debate, the bill passed 19-3. The committee then began hearing CS/HB 541 on minimum wage requirements, which would allow voluntary waivers of minimum wage for certain internships, pre-apprenticeships, and on-the-job training; the sponsor presented an amendment limiting the duration and clarifying minor waivers, and the committee heard both support from small business groups and opposition from labor, immigrant, and worker advocates before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we fingerprint all of our candidates as well.
• So if the candidate comes in, they bring that supplemental background and they do the fingerprints, then
• we actually will do our background and intelligence in addition to the fingerprints that are coming
• So we've got the time for the FDLE fingerprint background.
• Like if you're coming from another job, do you have time to get your fingerprints done right there?

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.