JFAC adds four examiner positions to Department of Finance budget, citing cybersecurity needs

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved four full‑time equivalent financial examiner positions and $642,800 in dedicated funds for the Department of Finance for FY2026 to strengthen IT examination, cybersecurity and forensic accounting capacity.

Noah Peterson, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, explained the request covered five enhancement items totaling six FTP in the agency’s submission but the committee moved a package that added four FTP and $642,800 from dedicated funds. Peterson said the requests were targeted to the department’s three bureaus: the Financial Institutions Bureau, the Consumer Finance Bureau and the Securities Bureau. The approved positions include IT‑focused examiners for the Financial Institutions and Consumer Finance bureaus, a cyber‑security examiner for the Securities Bureau and a forensic accounting specialist for securities investigations. The package also included $52,600 for ITS‑recommended IT hardware.

Representative Furness moved the motion and Senator Cook seconded it. In debate, Furness noted the committee trimmed two requested FTP in the working group and emphasized cybersecurity needs, citing FBI figures on fraud. The motion passed: the Senate vote was recorded as 7 ayes, 3 nays, 0 absent excused; the House vote was 8 ayes, 2 nays, 0 absent excused. For a combined total of 15 ayes, 5 nays, 0 absent excused. The motion carries a due‑pass recommendation.

The committee said the positions are intended to be interchangeable across bureaus, allowing cross‑work inside the department. The budget action also includes funds for hardware recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services.