The Minnesota Senate's Committee on Rules and Administration convened on June 13, 2025, to address key issues affecting Senate employees, including the annual employee roster and a new compensation resolution aimed at enhancing staff support.

The meeting began with the approval of the Senate employee roster, which is updated annually and publicly shared. Secretary Bodnar emphasized the importance of accuracy in the roster, which is dated June 6, and confirmed that it does not reflect recent changes in compensation. The committee unanimously approved the roster without any questions.

Following this, the committee discussed a significant resolution regarding employee compensation. This resolution, developed with input from the Management Advisory Committee, proposes a 3.5% salary increase for all Senate employees, along with a merit plan that includes a 2% salary base increase. Secretary Bodnar highlighted the importance of these adjustments in retaining staff and maintaining competitiveness, especially during challenging budget times. The committee adopted the compensation resolution, reflecting a commitment to support Senate employees.

Another important topic was the approval of changes to the comp time policy. The committee proposed increasing the cap on accrued comp time from 220 to 260 hours during budget years, while maintaining the 220-hour cap in non-budget years. This change aims to address the increased workload during budget sessions, allowing employees to better manage their accumulated hours. The committee recognized the need for this adjustment, especially given the extraordinary hours worked by staff during recent sessions.

In conclusion, the discussions and decisions made during this meeting underscore the Minnesota Senate's ongoing efforts to support its employees through fair compensation and manageable work policies. These measures are expected to positively impact staff morale and retention, ultimately benefiting the legislative process and the community at large.