Transcript Highlights:

• They have lowered their requested increases in regular salary and match in both their operations and
• Regular salaries and match for operations is now $245,490.
• Regular salary match for UCP is now at $109,711. Members, do we have any questions on item C?
• The spreadsheet also details the revised requests for regular salary and match appropriations totaling
• The amendment will also lower regular salaries by $189,211 and matching by $75,684, for a total reduction

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee took up several budget and personnel items, first approving revised requests from the Auditor’s Office and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The Auditor’s request lowered its salary-and-match increases to 10 percent, with operations and UCP amounts reduced to $245,490 and $109,711. The Lieutenant Governor’s revised request kept positions at line-item maximums and sought $99,876 in regular salary and match appropriations, or 17.43 percent. Both items were approved without objection. The main discussion centered on a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one senior advisor position, reduce authorized positions from 59 to 58, and cut salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the reduction was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s handling of corrections-related matters, including the Franklin County land purchase, transparency issues, and his refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Several members questioned the relevance of the testimony and noted the Governor could still hire him in another role if she chose. After discussion, a roll call vote was taken and the amendment failed. The committee then approved two routine items: OPM’s request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can offer up to $300,000 to recruit two medical examiners, and Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school. Both requests were approved, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those raises are based on the salary of the chairman.
• </c> over LBR, which includes salary over LBR, which includes salary progression progression progression
• Which is $30,000, $755 over LBR, salary and salary progression. Salary and salary progression.
• </c><01:20:09.280><c> progression</c> 375 for salary progression 375 for salary progression due<01:20
• ,</c> those uh transfers included salaries, those uh transfers included salaries, travel, travel, travel

Transcript Highlights:

• And the fund pays their salary. Co-Chairs, Senator McLean, yes, that is true.
• And the fund pays their salaries. Is that true? Co-Chairs, Senator McLean, yes.
• From the county paying for the salary of this employee going to continue?
• can't freeze salaries.
• We have to start freezing salaries to get ourselves out of this hole.

Summary: The Emergency Board approved a series of consent federal grant applications from the Natural Resources and Public Safety subcommittees, along with several budget and position requests. The board approved grant applications for parks, transportation, judicial, emergency management, higher education, school nutrition, and other programs, including retroactive approvals where deadlines had passed. One member objected to the Natural Resources consent grants over concerns about future funding needs, but the motion still passed. The board also approved a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, including digital privacy protections, circuit court security, and a statewide facilities assessment. A major discussion centered on Southern Oregon University’s financial stability. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission reported on SOU’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and projected cash shortfall. The subcommittee recommended, and the board approved, allocating $7.5 million from the special appropriation for short-term stability, with a required update at the September 2026 Emergency Board meeting and a future request for the remaining funds. Members debated the broader crisis in higher education, with several saying SOU’s situation reflects systemwide enrollment and funding pressures and that long-term restructuring will be needed. The board also approved an AmeriCorps volunteer generation grant, an apprenticeship expansion grant, and a Department of Education nutrition equipment grant. In public safety, it approved funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a statewide evacuation planning tool, and a juvenile justice information system modernization report, while requiring a follow-up viability report. The Department of Justice received approval for additional antitrust positions and expenditure limitation, though several members raised concerns about the funding structure and incentives tied to settlement revenues; the motion passed despite objections. In natural resources, the board approved funding for the Water Resources Department’s well abandonment, repair and replacement grants, an assistant water master position in Washington County, groundwater data collection in the Lower Umatilla Basin, a wetlands remote sensing pilot, and parks-related grant applications for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements. Members generally supported the requests but raised concerns about geographic equity, long-term sustainability, and whether some county responsibilities were being shifted to the state. The meeting also included discussion of a Department of Emergency Management evacuation tool as an urgent wildfire preparedness measure, with members emphasizing its potential to save lives.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see salaries increased by 6.6%. At a different level, you'll see salaries increased by 6.6%.
• As you can see, about 47% is tied to salaries and related benefits.
• As you can see, about 47% is tied to salaries and related benefits.
• Salaries make up about 2.9%, IAT 2.7%, operating services 1.6%, and related benefits 1.5%.
• IAT sits at about 19.7%, salaries at 11.6%, and related benefits at 5.2%.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee began a series of House Appropriations budget hearings focused on the fiscal year 2026-2027 executive budget, the preamble, and the executive department. Staff presented revenue and spending trends showing projected declines in revenues alongside increasing expenditures, with members emphasizing the need for a standstill budget and additional efficiencies. The House Fiscal Division also reviewed the FY25 surplus and FY26 excess, the constitutional uses of surplus funds, and the overall FY27 budget structure, including the distinction between discretionary and non-discretionary spending. The commissioner of administration described the administration’s use of one-time money, efficiency reviews, and budget reductions, while members asked about revenue forecasts, the motor vehicle sales tax dedication, corporate tax changes, and the impact of federal policy changes on state costs, especially SNAP and Medicaid administration. The committee then moved through several executive department agencies. The Division of Administration presentation covered its budget, vacancies, debt service, and reductions tied to statewide adjustments and efficiency measures. GOSEP’s functions were described as transferred into the Department of Military Affairs under Act 262 of 2025, and military officials outlined the new combined structure, emergency response duties, overseas deployments, youth programs, and concerns about future federal funding. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority reviewed its largely dedicated funding and explained that large apparent balances reflect long-term project planning and multi-year capital work. The Office of the State Inspector General presented a budget increase for consulting services tied to the governor’s DOGE-style efficiency initiative, and the inspector general said the effort had identified nearly $1 billion in savings across the executive branch, largely through eligibility reviews in Medicaid and SNAP and implementation of prior audit recommendations. Members raised questions throughout about how budget figures were calculated, why some totals appeared to rise while state general fund support fell, and how federal changes would affect state agencies. There were also questions about the transition of GOSEP into Military Affairs, the status of school safety centers, and whether the new structure would change local emergency responsibilities. No formal votes or amendments were taken during the portion provided; the meeting consisted of presentations, explanations, and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this is an amendment related to the salaries of state's attorneys.
• If they're at get 100% of their salary.
• And that have a 30% salary reduction.
• of non-exempt salary growth.
• 30:43.800><c> these</c><00:30:44.000><c> higher</c> these salaries, we ask these higher these salaries

Transcript Highlights:

• It increases the salary cap of the executive director of HHFDC to an amount that does not exceed the
• position salary cap to 95% of the executive director's salary.
• </c> Commission on Salaries, though. Commission on Salaries, though.
• So the commission on salaries just &gt;&gt; No.
• the salary may exceed the salary of the executive director. exempt from section 76 from chapter 76 exempt

Summary: The committees heard testimony on five housing-related measures. SB 2232 would create a three-year tiny home grant pilot program within HHFDC, with annual reporting to HHFDC and the Legislature; testimony was mixed, and the bill was later recommended for passage with amendments, including a full-time housing development specialist, a residential-use-only restriction for the tiny homes, and a blanked appropriation. SB 2192 would bar county down-zoning that reduces housing capacity unless equivalent capacity is added elsewhere in the county; it drew support from housing advocates and comments from planning officials, and was also recommended for passage with amendments. SB 2378 would clarify insurance requirements for single- and multifamily projects seeking expedited county permitting; engineers and housing groups supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and it was recommended for passage with a technical amendment. SB 2524 would appropriate funds to the City and County of Honolulu for housing-related departments to comply with prior acts; the Honolulu department supported it, and members asked about prior spending and funding sources. SB 2398 would require residential housing utility availability maps; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed the bill as written, citing infrastructure security, accuracy, liability, and administrative burden concerns, while supporters said it would improve transparency for developers. The chair proposed amendments to make the maps broad and geographic rather than parcel-specific, remove contested-case and reliance provisions, allow disclaimer language, and change the date; the bill was then recommended for passage with amendments, with one member noting reservations. All five measures were ultimately passed out of committee with amendments, with votes recorded and some members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• But at the end of the day, salaries matter and salaries are our biggest threat.
• But at the end of the day, salaries matter and salaries are our biggest threat.
• But at the end of the day, salaries matter and salaries are our biggest threat.
• But at the end of the day, salaries matter and salaries are our biggest threat.
• But at the end of the day, salaries matter and salaries are our biggest threat.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for salary personal services.
• If we go back and salaries increased.
• Again, we've had a lot of support to try to move our salaries more competitive.
• Again, we've had a lot of support to try to move our salaries more competitive.
• Again, we've had a lot of support to try to move our salaries more competitive.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, we took employees' salaries where they were because we couldn't decrease anybody's salary.
• So we had an engineering salary structure, we had an attorney's salary structure, we had a social services
• salary structure, and we had a general salary structure.
• Because the general salary schedule used to be numeric.
• Of the salary structure is. It used to be all over the place.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> salary.
• </c> salaries and they're very competitive. salaries and they're very competitive.
• So, I don't civil service salaries.
• set</c><00:25:20.320><c> by</c> salary [clears throat] is set by salary [clears throat] is set by statute
• </c> their salary based on their performance. their salary based on their performance. the<00:31:20.320

Bills: HB1721 , HB1714 , HB1718 , HB1732 , HB1740 , HB1777 , HB1842 , HB1919 , HB1701 , HB1923 , HB1741 , HB1734 , HB1739

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The House Housing Committee met on February 4 and heard testimony on several housing measures, beginning with HB1721, which clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for expedited permits. Testimony on HB1721 was uniformly supportive from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Grassroot Institute, and individual testifiers, who said the bill would fix insurance issues for design professionals and encourage more participation in the expedited-permit program. No opposition was heard and no questions were raised. The committee then heard HB1714, which would raise salary caps for the executive director and deputy executive director positions at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and allow more autonomy in personnel matters, including employment contracts. HHFDC supported the bill, saying greater flexibility is needed to recruit and retain staff and that current pay ceilings are not the main issue because the agency lacks operating funds to reach them. The Department of Human Resources Development offered comments and raised concerns about autonomous personnel authority and employment contracts, saying state personnel matters are governed by existing statutes and collective bargaining rules; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority also offered comments, and one board member and one individual opposed the measure. Members questioned whether performance-based pay or existing incentive policies could address retention instead of statutory salary changes. The committee also heard HB1718, which would make permanent county authority to facilitate mixed-use developments and issue county bonds for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Support came from OPSD, HHFDC, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Housing and Land Management, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, all emphasizing that permanent authority is needed to finance long-term mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. A member asked whether the sunset provision would make bonding impractical, and the city representative agreed that temporary authority would make financing difficult because development takes time. Later, the committee took up HB1732, establishing the Kamina Homes program to fund counties’ purchase of voluntary deed restrictions from eligible buyers. The Department of Taxation and several groups, including HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Holomua Collaborative, and others testified, with most supporting the bill as a way to help local families remain in Hawaii and age in place. Holomua said a recent survey found 75% of 3,200 working families were considering moving, and argued the bill could preserve housing for local residents. Members asked about the bill’s 8% cap on deed-restriction cost and why the program focuses on residency rather than resale restrictions; the bill’s proponents said the cap allows flexibility for county negotiations and that the measure is aimed at workforce preservation rather than land-trust-style appreciation limits. Finally, the committee heard HB1740, which would modify a prior HHFDC housing pathway by reducing the qualified-resident requirement from 100% to 80% and allowing more flexibility for long-term rental instead of owner occupancy. HHFDC and Holomua Collaborative supported the change, saying the earlier 100% requirement had produced no developments or applicants and that the revised standard would make projects more feasible while still preserving housing for local residents. The committee did not take final votes on these measures during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That would bring up the minimum salary schedule by an additional $2,000.
• The savings come from the salaries that are currently being paid by the agency.
• When they go to privatization, they'll no longer need to pay those salaries. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• This is to pay off those benefits and salaries whenever employees leave. Follow up, thank you, Mr.
• We're already going to see a $10,000 savings as a result of saving from the salaries themselves.

Bills: SB1177

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• We're hoping that those new, more marketable salaries will help us bring in better talent.
• We're hoping that those new, more marketable salaries will help us bring in better talent.
• But then a few months later, the worker that we increased his salary also left and went to the U of A
• It's like you mentioned, y'all have been working on a four-year plan to increase salaries.
• However, some of the other areas continue to raise salary as well.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and approval of the January 8 minutes, then moved to review of education audit reports. The first report concerned Northwest Arkansas Community College, which had three findings, including repeat internal control deficiencies that caused financial statement misstatements and a tuition revenue loss tied to a new student information system. College officials said the issues were largely misclassification and process problems, not missing money, and described corrective steps such as monthly closing checklists, approval controls for journal entries, cross-training, and efforts to address staffing turnover and fill finance vacancies. Members asked about the tuition issue, whether students were notified or billed, and whether the software problem affected other institutions; audit staff said they were not aware of the same scenario elsewhere. The committee then filed the report as reviewed. The next report was Cedarville School District, which had one finding involving $794 in improper credit card charges by a resigned elementary teacher. The district was reimbursed, a police report was filed, and the matter was referred to the Professional Licensure Standards Board; members asked whether any further action or license-related consequences were known, but staff said they were not aware of additional action. The report was filed as reviewed. The final finding was for West Memphis School District, where auditors reported repeat capital asset issues, including failure to capitalize about $851,000 in construction costs for a baseball-softball complex and problems with inventory and asset inspection. The superintendent said the district had recently begun using Legislative Audit after prior private audits, and described new controls such as multi-level purchase approvals, separation of duties, tagging of equipment, and a cleanup of old inventory records. Members also discussed the relationship between private audits and Legislative Audit reviews, with staff explaining that private audit reports for public school districts still come before the committee and that the executive committee determines when Legislative Audit performs an audit. The committee filed the West Memphis report as reviewed and noted that 28 school districts had no findings before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• the salaries to a level commensurate with salaries for other comparable positions in surrounding states
• ><c> a</c><00:08:36.080><c> level</c> staff to bring the salaries to a level staff to bring the salaries
• /c><00:08:38.159><c> other</c> commenurate with salaries for other commenurate with salaries for other
• </c> salaries alone would be $155,000. salaries alone would be $155,000. plus<00:30:48.399><c> they'd
• </c> for the employees salary progression. for the employees salary progression.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> said it's 12 month salary said it's 12 month salary 125%<01:25:50.800><c> Max</c><01:25:51.360><
• </c> ation um is based on includes salary ation um is based on includes salary bonuses<01:25:58.960><
• salaries salaries thank<01:31:56.880><c> thank</c><01:31:57.040><c> you</c><01:31:57.159><c> so</c><
• </c> then they should follow the state salary then they should follow the state salary guidelines<01:
• </c> resources to make the kind of salary resources to make the kind of salary decisions<01:41:42.639

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• of authority to determine the length of a full-time contract for different positions. as well as salary
• Now, what that will do is compact your salary schedules for these personnel.
• You've been appropriately looking at increases to teacher salaries and other areas of compensation, but
• Like every other household that's working, how much to anticipate in their salary?
• A problem as we create the... as we move these salaries up.

Committee: House House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• council expired when it submitted its recommendations or its determinations for executive branch salaries
• </c><00:03:10.120><c> next</c><00:03:10.360><c> year</c><00:03:10.680><c> in</c> judicial salaries next
• year in judicial salaries next year in 2026<00:03:12.440><c> but</c><00:03:12.599><c> under</c><00:03
• 03:20.480><c> branch</c> determinations for executive branch determinations for executive branch salaries
• um within the last six weeks or salaries um within the last six weeks or so<00:03:25.879><c> and</c>

Summary: The committee considered House File 1837 and first adopted the A6 amendment to the DE2. Staff explained that the A6 made several technical and policy changes, including fixes to compensation council language, grants management changes drawn from prior legislation and the governor’s fraud package, clarifying revisions to state contracting language, revival of the 2025 compensation council so it could address judicial salaries in 2026, changes requested by Minnesota Management and Budget to personnel management statutes, and a conforming change renaming the commissioner’s plan to the Non-Represented Employees Compensation Plan. After discussion, the committee adopted the DE2 as amended to House File 1837. Members and the chair described the bill as a bipartisan policy package reflecting work from both sides of the aisle. No opposition was recorded on the final motion. The committee then voted to re-refer House File 1837, as amended, to the General Register. The motion carried by voice vote, and the bill was reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> According to our KLC 2024 wage and salary survey, the estimated cost of salary and benefits alone
• Burnout salary and benefits, obviously.
• </c><00:09:47.240><c> are</c> as far as the benefits and salary are as far as the benefits and salary
• </c> competitive salary and benefits. competitive salary and benefits.
• </c> salaries and signing bonuses. salaries and signing bonuses.

Bills: HB339

Committee: Joint Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a percentage of the salary, if I remember correctly.
• It was a percentage of the salary, if I remember correctly.
• The percentage of the salary, if I remember correctly.
• Page 3 of the digest gives an overview of the salary increases that have been...
• And Jeff, that's based on— that's not just the base salary within this bill.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on May 13, 2026, and reported several bills favorable. HB 27 was approved after testimony that it would delete a constitutional sentence requiring debt payments to be applied to the oldest outstanding amortization, giving retirement boards more flexibility to pay off the most advantageous debt. HB 143 was supported by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association and local law enforcement representatives to raise the statutory per diem for housing state inmates in local facilities from $26.39 to match the current $29.39 rate already being paid in practice. HB 205 drew extensive testimony from clerks of court and election officials who said election commissioners have not had a pay increase in 19 years and are struggling to staff precincts, especially under the new closed party primary system; the bill would let local governing bodies enhance commissioner pay as a stopgap, and it was reported favorable despite concerns that it does not fully solve the staffing problem. The committee also approved HB 308, which would require state stadium and arena facilities to accept cash for smaller transactions or provide a kiosk to convert cash to a prepaid card without extra fee. HB 417 was reported favorable to increase the cap on the hazardous waste site cleanup fund from $6 million to $8 million and tie it to inflation; DEQ staff explained the fund helps pay for Superfund matches and cleanup of abandoned or bankrupt hazardous waste sites, and the increase would not affect the state general fund. HB 12, supported by the Louisiana Assessor Association, would provide 5% annual salary equalization increases for assessors through 2029, with local opt-in and no state general fund impact; members discussed the recurring pay parity issue with clerks of court and the possibility of a study resolution to address future adjustments more systematically, and the bill was reported favorable. Representative Kerner announced HB 311 would be deferred after concerns it could amount to a tax increase. HB 1129, supported by the Louisiana Auctioneers Association, was amended to clarify that the state’s movable-property auctions include internet auctions and to give Louisiana auctioneers preference to bid on those contracts; it was then reported favorable. HB 562, which would update transcript fees for the 19th Judicial District Court, prompted concerns about higher costs for litigants and due process implications, and the committee agreed to defer it to the next meeting for further discussion. The meeting ended with adjournment after brief recognition of visiting cattle industry representatives.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> WE’RE 100 MILLION IN DEFICIT RIGHT NOW WITH SALARIES AND OVER TIME.
• WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF OVERSIGHT OR MONITOR THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF CLERK EMPLOYEES THAT ARE
• FASTER THAN CLERKS ARE ABLE TO RAISE THE CLERKS SALARY.
• NOTABLY, 93 PERCENT IS FOR SALARY. I HAVE 1,110 EMPLOYEES AND 190 UNFILLED POSITIONS.
• FDC PRESENTLY OFFERS A STARTING SALARY OF $42,240 A YEAR.

Transcript Highlights:

• Her salary was $48,000. Now it's $50,000 because she's got a $2,000 raise.
• The entrance pay was low, but also the other salaries for our teachers are very low.
• But it allowed school districts to develop salary schedules on their own.
• And they're not choosing to spend that money to increase teacher salaries.
• I wanted to stick to the question of the allocation for employee salaries.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE