Transcript Highlights:

• We didn't have a food service worker salary, so we used the salary in the model for custodians.
• You could argue for a different salary, but that's what we had to work with.
• And $1.147 million is salaries. If we look just at benefits, that's $200,000.
• Our labor is inclusive of salary and Our labor is inclusive of salary and benefits, and it is about 60%
• Our salaries are half of that, $510,000. Benefits, $272,000.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• It was, and I'm looking at a quote, that sheriff's offices have many other costs outside of salaries,
• And there was another quote that said... ...bump in salary.
• questioning of my colleague from Del City here, isn't it true that the reason we have problems with salaries
• and county governments is because we base their salaries off arcane formulas that came out of the fact
• Isn't that the bigger problem, that the way we calculate salaries for county government isn't based on

Bills: SB227 , SB1942 , SB1627 , SB625 , SJR39 , SJR47

Committee: House Rules

Summary: The committee heard several measures, led by SJR 39, a proposed constitutional amendment to send to voters that would cap annual homestead property tax valuation growth at 1% and all other property at 3%. The speaker argued it would not cut taxes but slow growth for taxpayers facing rising assessments, while opponents questioned the effect on county revenues, sheriff funding, and whether growth below inflation would strain local governments. After debate, the committee voted 10-2 to report the resolution due pass. The committee also heard HJR 47, which would place proof-of-identity requirements for voting in the Constitution. Supporters said it would strengthen election integrity and noted existing law already requires proof of identity, while opponents raised concerns about impacts on voters with disabilities and the difficulty of changing constitutional language if problems arise. The measure was reported due pass on an 11-1 vote. Senate Bill 227, described as supporting fair taxation and investment without duplicative tax, and SB 1942, clarifying the distinction between reimbursable and reimbursed dental services to protect providers and patients, both passed the committee on near-unanimous votes. The committee then advanced SB 1627, a 116-page sentence-modernization and consolidation bill that was described as a cleanup measure with no substantive change to existing law, and it was reported due pass unanimously. Finally, SB 625 was presented as temporary cleanup language related to domestic violence legislation and judicial requests, with the sponsor noting the bill would be replaced by a floor substitute later; the committee approved it due pass 10-0. The meeting ended with the chair noting the committee was dismissed and likely to meet again under the rules committee schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• This straightforward measure ensures that school districts prioritize more money for salaries for hardworking
• non-CSF monies in the classroom at the same rate they did prior to receiving CSF monies, teacher salaries
• They're maybe 41%—they're spending maybe 41% on teacher salary and benefits—and so they would have to
• enforceable standard that at least 60% of operational spending must go to teacher pay, including salary
• That's teacher salaries, benefits, and other classroom direct classroom-related expenses—the lowest since

Committee: Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government considered only SCR 1032, along with a strike-everything amendment. The amendment would require school districts, subject to voter approval, to dedicate at least 60% of operational spending to teacher pay, with a phased-in increase beginning in FY 2028 for districts below that threshold. It also ties compliance to Classroom Site Fund eligibility, requires unexpended CSF monies to revert if a district is found out of compliance, and allows limited waivers from the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The sponsor argued the measure would correct what he described as a long-term misallocation of education funding and give voters a chance to prioritize teachers. Supporters, including representatives from Heritage Action, the Goldwater Institute, and the Center for Arizona Policy, said district spending has risen while teacher pay has remained flat in real terms, and argued the measure would increase transparency and accountability and ensure more money reaches teachers. Opponents, including a representative of the Rural Arizona School Coalition, said the proposal would be difficult for rural districts to meet and would squeeze out other necessary costs such as fuel, insurance, facilities, and minimum wage increases. A committee member also raised concerns that the measure could harm special education and other student support services by forcing districts to shift funds away from those areas. During discussion, the sponsor said charter schools were not included because he viewed them as private businesses, despite a member noting state law defines them as public schools. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and then approved SCR 1032 as amended. The final vote was 4 ayes, 3 nays, and 0 not voting, sending the measure out with a do pass as amended recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one clarifies that the parish portion of the ROV salary and their staff salary can be paid biweekly
• , semi-monthly, or monthly, depending on the parish's regularly scheduled salary payments.
• Yeah, I just wanted to ask. portion of the ROV salary and their staff salary can be paid biweekly, semi-monthly
• , or monthly, depending on the parish's regularly scheduled salary payments.

Summary: The State Board of Election Supervisors met on February 5, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the March 11, 2025 meeting. Chair Nancy Landry explained that the board was reviewing proposed technical and administrative changes for the Department of State’s 2026 elections omnibus bill, which would later go to the House and Senate Governmental Affairs Committees for public hearing. No public comment cards were submitted, and the board reiterated that comments could also be emailed to the acting secretary. First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsom and Deputy Commissioner Lainey Boyd presented items 1 through 39, with item 7 removed before consideration and item 37 later removed after board discussion. The proposals covered a wide range of election-administration topics, including registrar salary payment timing, restrictions on ROV employees running for office, clarifying party affiliation for voters who select “unaffiliated,” technical updates for voter registration transfers and precinct changes, protections for pre-registrants’ personal information, removal from protected voter lists, absentee ballot procedures, nomination petition certification, notice requirements when a candidate dies, watcher deadlines, over-voting, ballot curing, nursing home voting timing, procurement authority for voting equipment, and deadlines for contesting constitutional amendments and election irregularities. Several items were explained as cleanup or consistency changes to align the election code with current practice and prior omnibus revisions. Board members asked multiple clarifying questions, especially about the meaning of “unaffiliated,” the timing language for pre-registrants, what counts as actual notice of a candidate’s death, and whether proposed rules would follow the APA. The most substantive disagreement involved item 37, which would have allowed the Secretary of State to bring an election contest based on irregularities reported by an election official; after discussion, the board agreed to remove that item from the omnibus recommendations. Members also discussed item 38, which would create a cause of action and deadline for contesting the calling of a constitutional amendment, and item 39, which clarifies that election contests cannot be filed before election day. The board then approved the remaining provisions—items 1 through 6, 8 through 36, and 38 and 39—and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, you said, no teacher's salary increase can be more than $3,000. Did I hear that right?
• Each of those teachers, if they qualify, is eligible for up to a $3,000 salary increase.
• Each of those teachers, if they qualify, is eligible for up to a $3,000 salary increase.
• As I indicated, salaries are not covered by this committee. salaries are not covered by this committee
• Representative Antone: The maximum salary increase this year is just $3,000, or $250 a month.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> commission on salaries and adjustments. commission on salaries and adjustments.
• </c> &gt;&gt; we don't see what that salary is now. &gt;&gt; we don't see what that salary is now.
• ,</c> the budgeted amount on these salaries, the budgeted amount on these salaries, who<02:21:34.479>
• So we didn't list the specific salary, but we can give you the actual salaries last paid. >> We do have
• give you the actual salaries last can give you the actual salaries last paid. paid. paid.

Bills: SB1 , SB4 , SB6 , SB9 , SB16 , SB17 , SB20 , SB22 , SB28 , SB29 , SB36 , SB41 , SB45 , SB77 , SB85 , SB87 , SB96 , SB98 , SB110 , SB126 , SB139 , SB143 , SB164 , SB167 , SB171 , SB186 , SB188 , SB195 , SB197 , SB198 , SB204 , SB205 , SB206 , SB207 , SB209 , SB210 , SB211 , SB217 , SB219 , SB220 , SB225 , SB231 , SB237 , SB238 , SB241 , SB244 , SB246 , SB247 , SB272 , SB294 , SB315 , SB346 , SB364 , SB366 , SB367 , SB386 , SB392 , SB403 , SB415 , SB427 , SB431 , SB437 , SB457 , SB459 , SB469 , SB471 , SB478 , SB484 , SB489 , SB502 , SB503 , SB507 , SB508 , SB510 , SB516 , SB517 , SB518 , SB519 , SB521 , SB535 , SB543 , SB550 , SB564 , SB568 , SB570 , SB575 , SB577 , SB578 , SB590 , SB607 , SB616 , SB621 , SB634 , SB644 , SB647 , SB649 , SB652 , SB655 , SB656 , SB663

Transcript Highlights:

• responsibility and the critical public service we provide, the position has never ungone a formal salary
• SB 493 fixes that by directing CDFA to conduct a salary survey, establishing a fair compensation range
• And that salary... that salary survey is funded locally and not utilized by a CDFA doesn't have to pay
• It's also important correction by removing CalHR from the salary the 40th DAA.
• managers, marketers, event planners, community ambassadors, yet turnover is escalating because of the salary

Committee: House Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• continuation retirement benefits, salary continuation when<00:12:01.120><c> they're</c><00:12:01.279
• </c><00:12:17.680><c> Anyway,</c> uh, even based on salary alone.
• Anyway, uh, even based on salary alone.
• </c><00:12:22.399><c> of</c> the 2026 minimum in season um, salary of the 2026 minimum in season um,
• workers who may treated as salaried workers who may perform<00:13:10.079><c> certain</c><00:13:10.480

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• That is how we're going to help them improve salaries.
• On average salaries, I'm not going to give you anecdotal.
• It's still a very low salary in Boston.
• On average salaries, I'm not going to give you anecdotal.
• It's still a very low salary in Boston.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Troopers and house security personnel are present to ensure everyone's safety.
• :17.280><c> whole</c> chairman West will tell you his whole chairman West will tell you his whole salary
• </c><01:42:20.239><c> We</c> salary here goes to the uh daycare.
• We salary here goes to the uh daycare.

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East Superintendent of Police Security shall not exceed the salary
• So his salary comes down to $160,000. Okay. But just be aware of that.
• And once they do that, they have no say-so in salaries, responsibilities, or job duties.
• “The original contract said that if he gets terminated, he gets four years’ salary with increases.
• , any annual...” “...to set the initial salary, any annual salary increases, to vote on hiring a chief

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 6, 2026, approved the April 28 minutes, and heard several bills before moving into confirmation hearings. HB 205, by Rep. Bacala, would allow local governing authorities to supplement election commissioners’ pay by up to $100 per day; supporters from clerks of court and the Secretary of State’s office said the increase is needed to recruit and retain qualified commissioners amid longer days, training demands, and election security changes. The committee also reported HB 210, a cleanup bill clarifying retroactive application of a prior ethics law, and HB 228, which recreates the Department of State Civil Service and related entities through 2033. It likewise reported SR 86, which bars eyeglasses with audio/video recording capability in the Senate chamber without the Senate President’s permission, and HB 1177, which protects the identities of lottery hunt winners until after the drawing. HB 1045, limited to Pointe Coupee Parish, raises an audit threshold for certain water districts from $500,000 to $600,000 to reduce audit costs, and HB 813 would move Orleans Parish sheriff terms so the sheriff takes office in January instead of waiting until May; all were reported favorably. Senator Miller also announced that SB 491 would not be taken up that day. The committee then questioned nominees to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East. The first group, including Peter Vicari and Ronald Schumann, was asked extensively about recent personnel actions, an internal investigation, and the authority’s handling of a report that members said would likely be released after a board vote. Senators focused on the firing of the chief of police/operations personnel, allegations of payroll fraud, and whether the authority had improperly combined the chief of police role with compliance duties in a way that may conflict with statute and Civil Service guidance. Committee members also raised concerns about the chief’s contract, whether it had board approval, and whether the authority’s bylaws and salary practices complied with law. The nominees and counsel said some matters were still under review and that a separate compliance position was being considered. The committee later heard from additional nominees, including David Martin, Gregory Marsiglia, and Elton Jude Myers, who described backgrounds in engineering, law, procurement, and governmental contracts. Senators again pressed them on the need to separate compliance/auditing duties from the chief of police role, and the nominees generally agreed that those functions should be distinct and that the authority should have qualified auditing expertise. The meeting ended with no public comment and adjournment after the confirmation discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• They request $25.7 million in appropriation for salaries, match, and extra help.
• They request $25.7 million in appropriation for salaries, match, and extra help, all cite the salary
• They request $25.7 million in appropriation for salaries match and extra help, all cite the salary adjustments
• I don't think it is a lack of funding for salaries.
• We pieced together a salary.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, transfer, and review items, approving most requests in Sections B through J. These included temporary appropriations for state technology upgrades, personnel management, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, higher education workforce grants, an ARPA grant for the UAFS LPN program, an IIJA grant for geological/critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for 102 State Police vehicles, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, several cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission HVAC and AV needs, and overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands for $250,000 to cover operating expenses tied to a new building was discussed at length but failed on the vote after questions about the lease and operating costs. A major portion of the meeting focused on a $25.7 million pay plan appropriation request for 15 agencies. Members questioned why the Department of Human Services had not requested additional pay-plan dollars for human development centers, where DHS acknowledged staffing shortages, high turnover, and heavy overtime but said the issue was not lack of pay-plan funding. DHS was asked to provide a written plan to address staffing problems. The Department of Corrections testified that the pay plan had improved retention and hiring, and committee members asked for follow-up data on vacancies and staffing outcomes. Members also clarified that the pay-plan request was appropriation only, not new funding, and approved it. The committee then reviewed fund reports, including the restricted reserve, Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, Tobacco Settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust Fund, IIJA, and Revenue Services transfer reports. DHS and DFA were questioned closely about the Medicaid Trust Fund, with members noting a $90 million February draw and asking about projected year-end balances; DFA and DHS said February was a high-expense, low-revenue month and projected the fund would remain solvent through the fiscal year, ending between $150 million and $200 million, while a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The committee also discussed a state hospital damage report, where DHS explained that insurance proceeds would not fully cover the repair costs because of depreciation and the age of the buildings; members expressed concern that the state would recover far less than originally expected, and DHS said any additional insurance recovery would be limited and returned to restricted reserve.

Transcript Highlights:

• The pensions weren't being adjusted because any move district judges salaries are not being adjusted
• upward because any vote to adjust the district court judge's salary would be a vote of the legislature
• Disproportionate or go, don't go higher than the cumulative increases for the the state salaries, right
• It sounded as though the rule was limiting judges' salaries and and retirement money to the amount of
• So and just to be clear, this won't affect the judges' salaries, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• This direct benefit does not even cover the salary of a single resident.
• Representative Liebling, the faculty cost is a direct cost of salary time.
• In our residency program, we focused again on those salaries and support costs that we needed to incur
• to get the residency programs up and running, training costs, salaries, and benefits of our residents
• In the Research Institute, we also had salaries and support costs for bringing in the administration

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> CEO's salary. CEO's salary.
• But guess who's not paying that salary? It's the rate payers in Colorado.
• </c><00:34:14.000><c> It's</c><00:34:14.280><c> the</c> not paying that that salary?
• It's the not paying that that salary?
• The same people will still be employed and likely at the same salary.

Transcript Highlights:

• Von, Madam Chair, Representative Ric, yes, definitely the red flag of salaries at the nonprofit level
• Von, Madam Chair, Representative Ric, yes, definitely the red flag of salaries at the nonprofit level
• They might have gone for salaries, they might have gone for food; we don't know.
• I think about salaries at the NGO level.
• I think about salaries at the NGO level.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• in fiscal year 2027 to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry for a 5% salary
• Chair, the 11-line amendment in your name, dated January 20th, 2026 at 2:35 p.m., extends the 5% salary
• Chairman, current pay for a correctional officer starting salary is the exact amount of $45,621.
• The 11-line amendment, dated January 20th, 2026, at 2:35 p.m., extends the 5% salary increase to the
• Chairman, Senator Alston, to your question, when the salary increases are extended to prison contractors

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met for its first session, introduced staff and pages, and then heard several bills. SB 1010 would designate Loop 202 as the Charlie Kirk Highway; an amendment to rename it the Freedom of Speech Highway failed, and after testimony both supporting the honor and objecting that it would affect the Ed Pastor portion of the freeway, the bill received a do pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1077 would impose felony penalties for operating online services that facilitate prostitution, pandering, or child sex trafficking, and also address harmful sexual material and age verification; with no public testimony, it passed 5-2. SB 1093 would expand the definition of riot to include force or violence causing property damage and add riot to racketeering and conspiracy provisions; the ACLU opposed it as overbroad and harmful to protest rights, but the committee still gave it a do pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1058 would create the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act to bar government firearm registries and restrict firearm-related merchant category codes; gun-rights advocates supported it as a privacy measure, and it passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1035, which appropriates funds for a 5% pay increase for sworn correctional officers and department civilians at ADCRR. The sponsor said the raise is a top priority and part of budget discussions. Correctional employee representatives supported the pay increase but argued it is not enough and urged a larger raise, while private prison representatives and the Arizona Police Association asked that the increase also cover private prison employees to preserve pay parity and retention. Some members raised concerns about the fiscal impact and about whether private prison funds would be directed to salaries rather than profit. An amendment extending the raise to private prison employees under contract with the department was adopted, and the amended bill passed 4-3, with several members explaining their votes based on the need for a footnote or further safeguards and others supporting parity across state and private facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• increases and cost-of-living adjustments, to the fund source that pays the underlying salary for the
• However, pay increases can be split among several accounts depending on where the employee's salary is
• It’s calculated each biennium and represents the amount of salaries and benefits that originate from
• This shift leaves students on the hook to cover roughly half of salary and benefit increases through
• Inflation once again overtook salaries.

Bills: HB2070 , HB2671 , HB2617 , SB6258

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: funding, education, higher education, Western Washington University, state funding parity, financial aid, state funding, student support, educational reform, university procedures, academic policy, student success, Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database

Transcript Highlights:

• increases and cost-of-living adjustments, to the fund source that pays the underlying salary for the
• However, pay increases can be split among several accounts depending on where the employee's salary is
• It is calculated each biennium and represents the amount of salaries and benefits that originate from
• This shift leaves students on the hook to cover roughly half of salary and benefit increases through
• Inflation once again overtook salaries.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2070, which would create state funding parity for Western Washington University by tying appropriations to a per-student funding ratio. The prime sponsor and Western officials said Western has long been the lowest-funded public four-year institution on a per-student basis, leading to budget cuts, reduced student services, and delayed graduation. Students, faculty, and university leaders testified in support, while some members questioned whether the bill should instead address a broader higher-education funding formula for all institutions. Central Washington University also supported the bill but suggested a broader approach. No vote was taken on HB 2070. The committee then heard House Bill 2671, which would expand eligibility for state financial aid to certain nonprofit out-of-state branch campuses operating in Washington if they meet specified accreditation, duration, and authorization requirements. Rep. Timmons said the bill is intended to help students in an accelerated nursing program at Northeastern University in Seattle access aid and support workforce needs. Northeastern’s dean testified in support, saying the bill would align financial aid law with prior changes to degree-granting statutes and would not increase state spending. The hearing on HB 2671 was then closed. House Bill 2617, dealing with the higher-education “fund split,” drew extensive testimony. The bill would gradually shift more of employee compensation increases and central services costs to state funding, and would require a study of essential student services. The sponsor and many university, faculty, staff, and student witnesses argued that the current funding practice shifts costs to tuition, contributes to layoffs, program cuts, larger classes, and reduced student support, and creates instability across public higher education. Community and technical college representatives also said underfunding COLAs harms operations and students. The committee then moved to executive session on Senate Bill 6258, which would authorize the Washington Medical Commission to create a non-disciplinary pathway for voluntary license relinquishment; the committee approved it 14-0 with a due-pass recommendation, with three members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think that private sector salaries are a very fair comparison, although of course those have
• salaries which have been pretty stagnant over the last 10 or 12 years.
• Public sector salaries, this is an important point, have gone up quite a bit, particularly in the exec
• Underpayment of salaries for higher professionals.
• And so their salaries are. set in our budget, so through the ordinary appropriations process for.

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence