The House Appropriations Committee of the Idaho House of Representatives convened on January 31, 2025, to discuss key funding motions for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting focused on proposed salary adjustments and funding allocations for various state employees and educational institutions.

The session began with a review of the legislative responsibilities regarding state employee benefits, as outlined in section 5709A through D. Mr. Bybee, the committee analyst, emphasized the importance of maintaining the current health insurance plan structure for state employees. Following this, Senator Woodward requested unanimous consent to accept the proposed language regarding employee benefits, which was granted without objection.

The committee then moved on to discuss the Compensation and Employee Classification (CEC) motions, starting with an overview presented on page 17 of the meeting packet. Mr. Bybee explained the methodology used to calculate funding amounts, which included a recommendation of $1.55 per hour per full-time position (FTP) for state employees. The total funding requested for these adjustments amounted to $177,429,000, which included allocations for community colleges, public schools, and specific salary increases for IT and engineering workers.

Four motions were presented for consideration:
1. The first motion proposed $84,411,000 for a $1.55 per hour increase for state employees, along with additional funding for community colleges and public schools.
2. The second motion aimed to ensure that all state employees receive at least a 3% salary increase, with an additional $611,500 allocated for those earning above a specified threshold.
3. The third motion proposed a merit-based increase of up to 4% for state employees, with a total funding request of $84,411,000.
4. The fourth motion, aligned with the Governor's recommendation, sought a 5% salary increase distributed based on merit, totaling $180,653,800.

Representative Miller moved to approve the first motion, which was seconded by Representative Mitchell. The motion included detailed allocations for various employee categories and emphasized parity with federal military compensation. Senator Cook subsequently proposed a similar motion with slight adjustments, which included a request to delete specific language regarding healthcare workers to clarify the funding structure.

The committee engaged in discussions to ensure clarity on the proposed motions and their implications for state employees and educational institutions. The meeting concluded with a focus on the importance of equitable salary adjustments and the need for careful consideration of the funding methodologies presented.

Overall, the meeting underscored the committee's commitment to addressing employee compensation and ensuring that state agencies are adequately funded to support their workforce in the upcoming fiscal year. Further discussions and votes on the motions are expected in subsequent meetings.