Video & Transcript : 'salary parity' :
Page 73 of 320
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
2026 Contests of Candidacy State Election Board Apr 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, emoluments is much broader than salary.
- So the salary and benefits were increased in 2025 and 2026.
- creation, all salary increases were made by the Legislature.
- salaries are appropriate.
- The salary increase... ...to this candidate. She cannot.
Summary:
The Oklahoma State Election Board held a special meeting to address several candidate contests and related procedural matters. After roll call and opening remarks, counsel explained the hearing procedures, burden of proof, and possible outcomes. Several cases were noted as resolved or withdrawn, including Timmons v. Jones, Banning v. Sutterfield, and Roberts v. Gaw. In Ranson v. Riley, the board accepted constructive service after the respondent did not appear, heard that Riley was not a registered voter in the required district for the required period, and voted 3-0 to sustain the petition and strike him from the ballot, with costs assessed to the petitioner.
The board then heard Hasenbach v. Pugh, a contest challenging Senator Adam Pugh’s candidacy for Superintendent of Public Instruction under the Oklahoma Constitution’s emoluments ineligibility clause. The petitioner argued that Pugh was a sitting legislator whose office’s salary and benefits had increased during his term, relying on stipulated facts, a compensation commission order, and prior case law. The respondent argued the salary increase came from an independent commission that expressly excluded current legislators and that benefit changes were automatic under a preexisting statute, so no qualifying increase applied to Pugh. The board resolved several procedural issues first, including striking a reply brief as beyond the original petition and admitting joint stipulations into the record.
After a recess and executive session, the board returned to open session and voted 3-0 to deny the petition in Hasenbach v. Pugh, retaining Pugh as a candidate on the ballot and assessing costs to the petitioner. The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the secretary and a unanimous vote to adjourn.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- ><c> to</c> for salaries adjusting the salaries to for salaries adjusting the salaries to market<00:24
- </c> of that $50 million is for salaries. of that $50 million is for salaries.
- They're not in favor of going from a model-based salary to an average weighted salary.
- They're not in favor of going from a model-based salary to an average weighted salary.
- </c> teacher salary. teacher salary.
Committee:
Senate Education
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 03/12/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- But, there's no change to the salaries.
- It's not to actually fund the salary.
- Do you have salary determination.
- </c><00:08:00.080><c> are</c> potential changes in those salaries are potential changes in those salaries
- </c> numbers I'm hearing, and our salaries numbers I'm hearing, and our salaries are<00:21:25.480><c>
Committee:
Senate State and Local Government
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- It increased their salary and made them available.
- The agency chief's salary.
- Funding and salary increases helped tremendously.
- Funding and salary increases helped tremendously.
- Funding and salary increases helped tremendously.
Bills:
SB1
Committee:
Senate Finance
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools.
Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees.
DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, and language around teacher salary.
- So, this teach is because of the salary.
- salaries only rose by about<00:21:19.360><c> 10%.
- </c> This bill both raises educator salaries This bill both raises educator salaries and<00:50:54.120
- take-home</c><01:25:34.880><c> is</c> And when your salary take-home is And when your salary take-home
Bills:
HF3119
Committee:
House Education Finance
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 5, 2026 - 04:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- an expedited impasse resolution process regarding those salary dollars.
- What's the average salary that teachers are making? And it says $49,444. I then looked at...
- Salaries might be even lower. Benefits might be even lower.
- And then a special magistrate can come in and set the salaries.
- salaries, go up at least $10,000.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Seven - Monday, May 11
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's basically about salary commissions.
- He explained that they added an updated salary schedule for counties, and that it would not raise salaries
- He said the updated salary schedule would not raise salaries in any county and would still have to be
- The bill handler said it takes sheriffs out of the salary commission and sets a new floor for salary
- They cannot take that new salary in the middle of their term.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations - Room 216, 5 February, 2026; 8:30 AM
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, and just like for salaries.
- </c><00:13:15.760><c> line</c> underststaffed um, in the salary line underststaffed um, in the salary
- The final piece is that salary increase item and keeping those salary increases to focus on retention
- The final piece is that salary increase item and keeping those salary increases to focus on retention
- The final piece is that salary increase item and keeping those salary increases to focus on retention
Committee:
Joint Appropriations
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Appropriations S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- OPEC salaries have historically lagged other agencies.
- Um, I keep pushing legislation to cap salaries at the, the salary of the governor since nobody has more
- So we can look up y'all's salaries and compare the salaries to, um, article.
- To provide you with one example, a 2022 report on equine medicine salaries indicated the average salary
- Yeah, what is the salary now and what could it be?
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Employee Benefits Programs Committee May 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The second most important thing was having their salaries reviewed or increases in their salaries.
- It is the ratio between a salary and the midpoint of the salary range for that job.
- Since the comp ratio calculation is based upon the salary range, and we only assign salary ranges to
- It does not provide full salary, but it's a partial salary. There are caps on how much it'll give.
- It does not provide full salary, but it's a partial salary. There are caps on how much it'll give.
Summary:
The Employee Benefits Committee met to approve prior minutes, hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave, and related policy issues, and then recess for lunch. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the long-standing state-paid family coverage, cost-control measures, wellness incentives, the current grandfathered PPO and high-deductible options, and the effects of recent benefit mandates such as insulin caps, prosthetic coverage, medication management, prescription copay changes, and ambulance balance-billing limits. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact of adding benefits and the possible cost of moving to a non-grandfathered plan, while PERS and HRMS emphasized that health insurance remains the top-ranked employee benefit and that any major plan changes should be considered carefully. HRMS also presented compensation comparisons showing state pay generally below private-market benchmarks, discussed targeted market equity adjustments, identified ongoing recruitment and retention concerns in fields like nursing, IT, engineering, and attorneys, and reviewed leave policies, tuition reimbursement, and family leave comparisons with neighboring states. Job Service provided labor market data showing low unemployment, high labor force participation, and wage growth that still trails some neighboring markets, and OMB explained that prevailing wage requirements apply to federally funded projects under Davis-Bacon, not to ordinary state contracts.
After lunch, the committee took up the required process for health insurance mandate bills and adopted an amendment to Joint Rule 211. The amendment clarified that the deadline for submitting mandate measures is intended to allow time for all required reports, including both the cost-benefit analysis and any Employee Benefits Committee actuarial report, while leaving the existing deadline unchanged. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, with several members voting yes and a few no votes recorded. The committee then moved into its jurisdiction review of bill drafts, beginning with a bill that would automatically renew pre-tax dental and vision elections; members debated whether it had any actuarial or administrative impact on PERS or the state, and the chair explained that the committee’s role was only to decide whether further analysis was needed before later testimony and recommendations.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Seven - Monday, May 11
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's basically about salary commissions.
- That salary schedule had not been updated for over 30 years, and so this gives them an updated salary
- The salary schedule had not been updated for over 30 years, and so this gives them an updated salary
- No salary will go up because of this vote.
- It has to be voted on by the salary commissions and approved by the commissioners before any salaries
Summary:
The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journals for the 65th and 66th legislative days. Members also spent time on personal privilege and special guest introductions, including a recognition of law enforcement officers who were injured in the line of duty and several interns serving in House offices.
The chamber then took up several fiscal review committee reports and moved to conference and Senate bills. House Bill 2818, dealing with annexation and related local government language for St. Joseph Airport, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County, was explained as a compromise on voluntary annexation standards; after debate it was adopted and then third read and passed by a vote of 136-7. House Bill 1825, concerning county salary commissions and county classification changes for Lafayette, Pettis, and Saline counties, drew debate over county pay and the exclusion of coroners, but the Senate substitute was adopted 109-35 and finally passed 106-39.
The House also considered House Joint Resolution 87, the so-called constitutional sheriff resolution, which would place sheriff duties and the office itself in the Missouri Constitution. Members debated its scope, including concerns about the term “traitors,” possible effects on Kansas City’s police governance, and whether the measure was necessary; a St. Louis City amendment clarifying the City of St. Louis sheriff provisions was adopted. The resolution then passed 100-47. Finally, Senate Bill 878 on pharmacy practice and rural health access, including pharmacist treatment for common illnesses, emergency waivers, and access to certain medications and supplies, passed 132-13 after an amendment on blood pressure cuffs for pregnant women and opioid-alternative language was adopted. Senate Bill 903, addressing telecommunications infrastructure and copper theft, passed 137-5. The House then announced upcoming committee work, including a born-alive bill, and adjourned until May 12, 2026.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, & Judiciary (2-3-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- I don't have updated salary information from the contractor.
- Basher raised the starting salaries at DJJ to $50,000.
- at DJJ to raised the starting salaries at DJJ to $50,000. $50,000. $50,000.
- Preston sitting here, I think his ears perked up when we're talking about attorney salary.
- It can give you the salary amount, but not with benefits. >> So my annual salary is around 92.
Keywords:
00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call
01:42 Department of Corrections
04:14 Department of Juvenile Justice
16:22 Kentucky Law Enforcement Council
28:01 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The committee heard budget-related testimony from the Department of Corrections on a request for additional funding to take over operations of the Lee Adjustment Center, including $2.2 million in fiscal year 2027 and $5.2 million in fiscal year 2028. The witness said the governor’s budget did not recommend the request. Members asked about the cost savings of private operation versus state operation, the facility’s role in the department’s long-term goals, and whether the state intends to move toward operating all adult correctional facilities directly.
The Department of Juvenile Justice then presented on staffing, recruitment, retention, and facility planning. Officials described recent pay increases and other investments, including a 10% security pay raise in 2021, an 8% state employee raise in 2022, higher youth worker starting salaries, and $4.8 million in 2023 funding to sustain salary increases. They said DJJ has also expanded mental health and medical staffing, improved recruitment efforts, and seen an upward trend in hiring. In response to questions, the commissioner said barriers to recruitment and retention include the Tier 3 retirement system, the structured and restrictive nature of detention work, and competition from other employers. He also said the department wants to move toward a regional model for female facilities under SB 162 and believes those facilities can be staffed.
DJJ provided staffing figures showing 1,339 funded positions, with 157 filled and 182 vacant at a January benchmark, and 524 detention positions with 450 filled and 74 vacant. Officials said 30 correctional officers were in basic training and expected to join posts soon. Members also asked about the feasibility of staffing additional facilities and the department’s vacancy trends.
Finally, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council testified on a funding request for one attorney, one paralegal, one additional monitor, higher costs for existing monitor positions, and Lexington office rent. Officials said the request is needed to handle a growing decertification caseload and expanded oversight responsibilities as the number of academies has increased to about eight, with more than 2,100 instructors requiring biennial review. They said KLEC currently has one attorney and about 15 total staff, with roughly 180 cases pending, more than 50 complaints left to file, and another 30 cases expected soon. Members asked about current staffing, attorney salary, the number of academies, and the move to a separate Lexington office. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned without a quorum for approving minutes.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Business and Commerce (Part II) Feb 27th, 2025
Business & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- And the median salary would be determined by the comptroller.
- And so, you know, I know sometimes it's a bidding war for our salaries.
- Limiting the salaries that are listed to those salaries paid for by the government contracts is important
- the salaries of all the physicians.
- CEO's very large salaries, if we want to talk about costs.
Committee:
Senate Business & Commerce
Keywords:
hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, delta-8, delta-9, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, edibles, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, retailer registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, minor access
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- This is largely to compete with those local competitive salaries to bring them up to an hourly salary
- that is competitive. ...competitive salaries to bring them up to an hourly salary that is competitive
- Teacher salary allocation, it's a total $201 million increase.
- Teacher's salary allocation, it's a total $201 million increase.
- And by the way, I want to compliment you for increasing the salaries for... ...the areas of salaries
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
Summary:
The committee first took up SB 7010, which would authorize post-tax Roth contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans, instead of limiting them to pre-tax contributions. After a brief presentation and one waived appearance in support, the bill was rolled and reported favorably. Later, members also recorded affirmative votes on SB 7010 before adjournment.
The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the Governor’s proposed “Floridians First” budget, presented by Lita Kelly of the Office of Policy and Budget. She outlined a $117.4 billion spending plan with $53.2 billion in general revenue, emphasizing reserves, debt reduction, trust fund sweeps, and targeted reductions in agency positions. Major priorities included K-12 and higher education funding, teacher salary support, school hardening, Everglades and water-quality projects, cancer and behavioral health initiatives, emergency preparedness, law enforcement, corrections staffing and facilities, cybersecurity, transportation, affordable housing, and economic development.
Members asked extensive questions about teacher pay, corrections staffing, emergency response reserves, the proposed federal reimbursement for the Everglades detention facility, the Second Amendment sales tax holiday, the animal abuse hotline, and the absence of a specific Hope Florida line item. A major portion of the discussion focused on the Department of Health’s planned changes to the ADAP HIV/AIDS drug assistance program, with public testimony warning that the changes could cut off access to medications for thousands of Floridians and alleging misuse of federal funds. Kelly said she would follow up on several details, including litigation costs, teacher pay comparisons, and ADAP funding questions.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
2026 Contests of Candidacy State Election Board Apr 16th, 2026 at 09:00 am
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 21, 2026 - 04:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- They require a higher salary to attract talent.
- , and some of that is our salaries versus other state agencies.
- Do you keep vacant positions to utilize salary rates for field positions? Do you do that?
- At the recurring base, you're funding existing positions at their current salary.
- So, is the salary allotted for this position?
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations - Room 409, 22 January, 2026; 1:30 P.M.
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> with no money set aside for salaries. with no money set aside for salaries.
- >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah. table of of uh salaries table four table of of uh salaries table four salaries
- </c> salaries and wages fringe benefits. salaries and wages fringe benefits.
- That is a salary expense.
- It's it's trapped in salaries. salaries. salaries.
Committee:
Joint Appropriations
MS
Transcript Highlights:
- salary for the position<00:11:59.279><c> of</c><00:11:59.519><c> which</c><00:11:59.760><c> they</c>
- So if we return someone to work at 80% of the stated salary, the contribution rate for that work would
- They are benefiting from the salary of which they receive. who currently has to pay the 18.4 which who
- ,</c><00:14:40.880><c> the</c> to work at 80% of the stated salary, the to work at 80% of the stated
- Senator Blunt for a question. someone who takes 50% salary uh for 50%, someone who takes 50% salary uh
Committee:
Joint Finance
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Employee Benefits Programs Committee May 7th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Employee Benefits Programs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- The second most important thing was having their salaries reviewed or increases in their salaries.
- The second most important thing was having their salaries reviewed or increases in their salaries.
- It is the ratio between a salary and the midpoint of the salary range for that job.
- Since the comp ratio calculation is based upon the salary range, and we only assign salary ranges to
- It does not provide full salary, but it's a partial salary.
Committee:
Joint Employee Benefits Programs Committee
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Committee of Conference on HB 1099, HB 1807 (05/20/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- I don't think necessarily each individual person is getting some outrageous salary.
- overall and also over time, 10 salaries overall and also over time, right?
- You know, some of outrageous salary.
- ,</c><01:08:25.000><c> that's</c> of average teacher salaries, that's of average teacher salaries, that's
- </c> plus any salary over 100,000. plus any salary over 100,000.
Summary:
The conference committee first discussed HB 1099, which creates a committee to study private business providing special education services and local school district reimbursement. Members explained that the issue is broader than special education alone, involving residential placements, foster care, court-ordered placements, and questions about which entity pays for education and care costs when students are placed in residential facilities. The House proposed an amendment to expand the study to include students placed in residential facilities by school districts as well as those placed through episodes of treatment or court order, and members agreed the existing commission would not resolve the issue before its July 1, 2026 expiration.
Representative Coker raised concern about the phrase “but not limited to,” but members said the broader language was needed to capture placements beyond the existing statutory categories. The committee then agreed to accede to the Senate version of HB 1099 with a committee amendment, and the House voted unanimously to adopt amendment 2026-1845H. The bill was placed on the consent calendar, and the meeting adjourned.
The transcript also includes a separate conference committee discussion on HB 1807, concerning mandatory reporting to voters. The main dispute was how to present administrator compensation: the House favored total administrative cost, while the Senate initially preferred average administrator salary. Members debated whether voters would be better informed by totals or averages, and whether the bill should define “administrator” more clearly by reference to DOE rules. The committee reached a tentative compromise to add both an average administrator salary graph and a total administrator cost graph, define administrators by reference to ED 501.02(B), scale the graph more precisely, and list the top 10 highest-paid administrators plus any employee earning over $100,000. Both chambers then gave unanimous support to the revised approach, with the understanding that the draft would be finalized and signed later.