Transcript Highlights:

• Other programs have not deployed the endowment earnings for faculty salaries.
• They did not spend any of the earnings on faculty salaries.
• . $142,000 were spent on faculty salaries.
• One, salary increases for our educators.
• Do you provide those for faculty salaries, for other expenses, etc.?

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Moore, the recommendation from the study committee, what was it, the salary?
• salaries for the governor and 30% for all other statewides.
• That's not just like your salary. That's a raise.
• My wife tells me it's unbecoming to speak of the salary we make here.
• Competitive salaries attract quality.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 513 by Representative Young, which would regulate name, image, and likeness activity for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletes, especially high school athletes. Young said the bill reflects recommendations from a task force and sets guardrails such as parental consent and prohibited NIL categories. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill favorably as amended. Members then heard several Senate bills from Senator Mizell and Senator Cloud. Senate Bill 233 would create a statewide data exchange compact to allow state agencies to share information more efficiently; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 300 would make various changes to the Procurement Code, including auction techniques, sole sourcing for consulting services in limited cases, and procurement process clarifications; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 303 would allow executive branch agencies to buy or share technology solutions with other states and use the federal GSA schedule, and it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 411, removing a 20-year lease limitation for certain Orleans Parish state property, was also reported favorably. The committee spent substantial time on House Bill 660 and House Bill 719, both dealing with district attorney funding and staffing. HB 660 would raise the state warrant amount for assistant district attorney salaries from $50,000 to $60,000, with supporters arguing it is needed to recruit and retain prosecutors; an opposition witness argued the state should fund both prosecutors and public defenders more equitably. The committee adopted an amendment making the bill effective only upon appropriation and reported it favorably as amended. HB 719 would increase the number of assistant district attorney warrants statewide, with most of the new warrants directed to Baton Rouge, St. Tammany, and Caddo; it too was amended to be subject to appropriation and reported favorably as amended. House Bill 596, which would have created an inactive well-feet assessment credit for oil and gas operators, was voluntarily deferred after concerns that it could reduce funding for the oil field site restoration fund. Later, the committee reported favorably as amended House Bill 802, which redirects existing revenue to watershed and flood restoration work in the Amite River Basin, and House Bill 940, which creates a task force and rules framework for law enforcement responses to unlawful drone activity. It also reported favorably House Bill 76 on coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications, House Bill 950 on consumer protection materials for seniors, and began discussion of House Bill 1028, which would require higher Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation providers.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2276 relating to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund investment officer staff salaries
• Health Benefits Trust Fund investment officer staff salaries.
• </c> focused on that trying to do salary focused on that trying to do salary differentials<00:35:36.240
• </c> applied, I had no idea what the salary applied, I had no idea what the salary range<00:40:23.880
• </c> position and a salary. It sounded good. position and a salary. It sounded good.

Committee: House Labor

Summary: The House Committee on Labor met on February 19, 2026, and heard a series of bills largely focused on public employment, staffing, and professional licensing. Early measures included HB 2276 and HB 2472, both relating to Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries, which were supported by trust fund representatives and received no opposition or questions. The committee also heard HB 1714 HD1 on housing, where the Hawaii Public Housing Authority testified with comments and the Deputy Attorney General raised concerns about the scope of autonomy, civil service, collective bargaining, and a possible separation-of-powers issue involving legislative approval of long-term contracts. The committee then considered several personnel and civil service bills. HB 2325 HD1, relating to civil service exempt positions at DLNR, drew support from DLNR and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, but HGEA opposed it and urged the department to seek other recruitment and retention solutions while keeping employees in civil service. HB 1541, relating to Department of Health positions, was supported by DOH on the grounds that the positions serve vulnerable populations and require specialized expertise, while HGEA opposed. HB 2140 HD1, relating to essential permanent positions, received support from OPSD, HGEA, and the Chamber of Commerce, with written comments from the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services. HB 2315 HD1, relating to state employment benefits, was strongly supported by DOH, UPW, and HGEA as a recruitment and retention incentive; members questioned the pilot program, and DOH explained it would allow employees to cash out vacation leave earlier than current policy allows. The committee also heard HB 2295 on government contracting, with DOE support not present and IBEW 1186 in opposition. HB 1720, relating to professional engineers, drew strong support from the City and County of Honolulu’s planning department, which argued the bill would help with affordable housing review and only affect eligibility to sit for the licensure exam, but strong opposition from engineering industry and licensing board representatives, who warned it would lower licensing standards and harm reciprocity; members questioned both sides about plan review experience and licensure requirements. HB 2367, relating to employment earnings and pay transparency, received strong support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, AAUW, the Commission on the Status of Women, and others, who said transparency helps small businesses and retention, while written opposition came from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and NFIB. Finally, HB 1935, relating to personal information, drew comments from the Attorney General and the Campaign Spending Commission about implementation burdens and disclosure requirements, with UPW supporting the home-address redaction portion but opposing the broader disclosure process; additional written testimony was noted from OIP, the League of Women Voters, Public Press Law Center, HGEA, and DCCA.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, um, they had a little bit of extra in their salary target.
• </c> bit of of extra in their salary target. bit of of extra in their salary target.
• The last salary increase they received, they did have enough um leeway in their salary target.
• ><00:08:44.800><c> they</c><00:08:45.040><c> did</c> salary increase they received, they did salary increase
• </c> have enough um leeway in their salary have enough um leeway in their salary target.<00:08:48.000

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, what's the minimum salary? The minimum salary in state law is $33,600, so and there may be.
• Dallas is somewhat unique in that they do not use the traditional salary schedule so the salary schedule
• Service salary schedule you're gonna get whatever that salary schedule raises that you know rain falls
• Salaries are higher than almost everybody in the region, but they also change the way salaries work.
• That comes out of their salaries.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> behind um in terms of the salary behind um in terms of the salary schedule<00:07:27.840><c> they
• This is salary and program, or just salary? The 210—no, it says 440.
• and program or just this is salary and program or just salary<01:53:14.880><c> the</c> salary the salary
• They don't get a salary. It's just benefits, not a salary. They do not get a salary.
• They don't get a salary. It's just benefits, not a salary. They do not get a salary.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has the salary for every single school district superintendent.
• You can find superintendent salaries in the Superintendent Annual Financial Report.
• You said in your testimony, and I just want to clarify, superintendent's salaries in our public record
• You can find superintendent salaries in the Superintendent Annual Financial Report.
• That is by far the highest salary in the state by over $11,000.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

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:

• Um, their salaries are for a non-licensed social worker, I actually think their salaries are comparable
• </c><00:50:22.160><c> maybe</c> with kind of the lower salaries maybe with kind of the lower salaries
• </c> hard to develop a competitive salary hard to develop a competitive salary scale.<00:51:27.200><c
• ><c> with</c><00:51:38.000><c> the</c> make a respectful salary with the make a respectful salary with
• </c> worker, I actually think their salaries worker, I actually think their salaries are<00:53:01.599

Transcript Highlights:

• California has one of the highest average teacher salaries. It's roughly around $95,000.
• Our average teacher salary currently is about $55,000.
• But we do need to improve our teacher salaries.
• We are asking, again, every year, that we have to increase the funding for the salaries.
• To increase the funding for the salaries.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget and the Department of Education on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 education budget. Shelby Salmons outlined the overall budget framework, and Commissioner Stasi Kamoutsis highlighted major education investments, including $486 million for VPK, $30.6 billion for K-12 education, a $761.1 million increase in FEFP funding, the highest per-student funding level to date, and $201 million more for teacher pay flexibility. The presentation also emphasized school safety, mental health, civics education, and the Guardian Program, along with continued funding for TEACH, HIPPY, Help Me Grow, and civics debate and literacy initiatives. Members asked about how the mental health allocation would be used, counselor staffing ratios, school closures and whether the department intervenes, oversight of school choice and voucher-funded schools, and the Guardian Program’s pay structure and effectiveness. Senators also raised concerns about the FISH school capacity report, data collection, teacher pay, professional development, AI and tutoring technology, and whether the budget adequately supports mental health services and school safety. The Commissioner said many funding decisions are left to districts, that the department stands ready to assist, and that the Guardian Program has been successful and expanded over time. During public testimony, Pinellas County School Board member Laura Hine said her district spends far more on safety and mental health than it receives in state categorical funding, and urged the committee to consider full-day VPK funding, arguing it has improved third-grade reading outcomes in Pinellas. Senators followed up on district flexibility and local spending choices. The committee took no substantive vote on the budget presentation and adjourned after thanking the department for its recommendations and partnership.

Transcript Highlights:

• So cities sometimes have an issue when they have to kick in most of the salary for an SRO that can't
• California has one of the highest average teacher salaries. It's roughly around $95,000.
• But we do need to improve our teacher salaries.
• We are asking again every year that we increase the funding for the salaries.
• And as the appropriators, we are happy... ...to increase the funding for the salaries.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met to hear the governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget recommendations for education from the Office of Policy and Budget and the Department of Education. Shelby Salmons and Commissioner Stasi Kamoutsis outlined the governor’s proposed $117.4 billion state budget, including about $32.5 billion for education, with major emphasis on public schools and early learning. The presentation highlighted a $30.6 billion K-12 budget, a $486 million VPK program, continued funding for VPK Summer Bridge, TEACH, HIPPY, and Help Me Grow, as well as increases for teacher pay, base student allocation, mental health, school safety, civics education, and school hardening initiatives. The commissioner also cited a 92.2% statewide graduation rate and Florida’s national rankings in education and education freedom. Senators used the question period to raise concerns about counselor staffing, mental health services, school closures, school choice oversight, the Guardian Program, data reporting, and school capacity. Senator Jones asked about counselor ratios, school closures in historically Black communities, and whether school choice schools are properly monitored for safety and instructional quality. Senator Osgood argued that mental health funding should support more clinical services on campuses, not just academic counselors, and Senator Bradley asked whether the centralized data repository includes scholarship students. Senator Gates praised the civics and debate funding and asked for more detail on the Guardian Program’s performance; the commissioner said 53 of 67 districts participate and described it as a successful safety option with sheriffs approving training. Senators Simon and Osgood also pressed for better use of the FISH report and more accurate space data to understand school capacity and right-sizing. During public testimony, Pinellas County School Board member Laura Hine said her district is an A-rated district with no D or F schools, but spends far more on safety and mental health than it receives in state categorical funding. She said Florida’s mental health staffing ratio is about one counselor per 2,203 students, compared with a recommended one per 1,106, and urged the committee to consider funding full-day VPK statewide, estimating it would cost about $375 million. Committee members followed up on her comments about local flexibility and whether districts can shift funds to meet needs. The meeting ended after members thanked DOE and executive branch staff for the presentation, and the committee adjourned without taking any substantive vote on legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Historically, these payments were funded through salary savings from vacant positions, but reductions
• Departments are expected to pay for certain costs using salary savings.
• has control over, but they're also not formally budgeted, and they're just expected to use these salary
• as noted, are an ongoing legally required structural cost, which departments typically absorb via salary
• So using salary savings, given that they're fluctuating, they are a less stable fund source for these

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, that's a great point. for the salary for business court judges.
• paid by the state, and counties are allowed to... allowed to supplement that salary up to a limited
• So the committee substitute would state that the salary that a business court judge receives from the
• state is equal to the district judge's salary plus the maximum amount that a county could supplement
• To your questions about the salary supplement, all of the urban areas do provide the salary supplement

Bills: SB1538 , SB2883 , HB1734 , HB2340 , HB2350 , HB3376

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• Um which salaries were kind of fixed.
• And the remainder of that salary increase is for retention, title changes, salary increases, moving folks
• And the remainder of that salary increase is for retention, title changes, salary increases, moving folks
• </c> from what's in these salary increases. from what's in these salary increases.
• </c> just talked about in regard to salary just talked about in regard to salary increases.<00:52:54.800

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• positions and current salaries of existing bailiffs.
• The result should provide clarity and ensure salary consistency.
• Currently, we have a salary range from $38,000 to $100,000. $112,000 for these.
• In fact, we had one judge that assigned the higher salary to somebody else and paid the driver a much
• lower salary.

Bills: HB 1193 , HB2495 , HB2733 , HB3104 , HB3395 , HB4325 , SB3009

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• since I've been in the legislature to the judiciary's salaries.
• </c> that we've put a a salary schedule. that we've put a a salary schedule. everybody<00:37:48.000><
• The Attorney General's actual salary, if you remember, we raised the statewide salaries.
• The Attorney General's actual salary, if you remember, we raised the statewide salaries.
• The Attorney General's actual salary, if you remember, we raised the statewide salaries.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• PDM is actually a salary expense in the state accounting system.
• And that's not much, but when you have a salary line item, you can't move money around.
• So um we know we'll need about salaries.
• Um, and so that's really the only request that they have is salaries and then IT-related costs.
• have is salaries and then it related. have is salaries and then it related.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And the reason they do not serve on the salary commission is that their salary is not set by the salary
• from being affected by the salary commission.
• And the reason they do not serve on the salary commission is that their salary is not set by the salary
• Primarily, the sheriff could lose salary if he's removed from the salary commission because his salary
• to be in the salary commission because they can receive raises by being in the salary commission.

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a quorum call and welcomed special guests, including the Freedom of the Road motorcycle riders and students from Warsaw High School. It then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on Alpha-Gal syndrome. The bill sponsor described the condition as a serious tick-borne allergy that has affected his family and many Missourians, arguing that Missouri needs mandatory reporting and surveillance data to identify hotspots, guide public health outreach, and support research and funding. Supporters from both parties said the bill would improve awareness and data collection, while one member raised concerns about the fiscal note and whether the state would get useful information for the cost. The chamber adopted Amendment 1 to HB 1855, changing the follow-up language from “may” to “shall,” but rejected Amendment 2, which would have required patient consent before lab results were reported into the surveillance system. Opponents of the consent amendment said it would undermine disease surveillance and set a bad precedent for other reportable conditions; supporters argued for privacy and individual choice. After debate, the House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The House then considered House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2230 and 2978, a K-5 education measure addressing screen time, cursive, and handwriting. The sponsor said the bill responds to research and parent/teacher concerns about excessive screen use, poor literacy outcomes, and mental health effects, and would create a state focus group to review evidence and make recommendations while leaving districts flexibility. Members discussed carve-outs for special education, English language learners, and virtual school, and adopted an amendment excluding the virtual school program. The House then adopted the substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2355, the “Food is Medicine” initiative, which would allow Missouri to use federal funds through 1115 waivers for pilot programs such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition education, and related supports. Supporters said the program could improve health outcomes, reduce Medicaid spending, and help address food deserts. An amendment adding vitamin therapies and updating a date drew discussion over supplement safety and regulation, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that amendment or the bill itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Governor vetoed Section 310, which limits salary increases for the 2029 to 2030 biennium.
• The chief clerk will call the roll. 310, limitations on salary increase.
• The 310, limitations on salary increase.
• And I vote is to salary increases.
• </c> salary increases. salary increases. Senator<03:11:10.640><c> Hicks.</c> Senator Hicks.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:44.280><c> uh</c><00:07:44.800><c> by</c> defenders uh salary uh by defenders uh salary uh
• The first year is just half-year salary.
• ERS range of their investment officer salaries.
• </c> year salary it's just half year salary year salary it's just half year salary and<00:15:28.120><
• salary salary okay<00:16:00.000><c> good</c><00:16:00.319><c> afternoon</c><00:16:01.319><c> well</c