The Committee on Rules and Administration convened on June 13, 2025, to address several administrative matters, including employee compensation, comp time policies, interim travel expenses, and the appointment of a new chair for the subcommittee on ethics.

The meeting began with a motion from Senator Ress to adopt Committee Resolution 17, which pertains to employee compensation. The resolution was approved unanimously, with no questions raised by the members.

Next, the committee discussed the approval of comp time, a topic revisited annually to accommodate staff who work extra hours during legislative sessions. Secretary Bodnar presented a proposed change to Senate Policy 2.4, which would increase 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 adjustment was recommended by the management advisory committee in response to increased hours logged by staff. Senator Marty expressed support for the change, noting its importance in recognizing the hard work of staff. The motion to adopt the changes retroactively to January 14, 2025, was also passed without opposition.

The committee then moved on to interim travel expenses and per diem. Secretary Bodnar indicated that the proposed changes were similar to previous years but included updated dollar amounts. Notably, the hotel lodging allowance was increased from $150 to $200, and the IRS mileage rate was updated to 70 cents per mile. The committee approved the interim travel expenses and per diem letter dated June 13, 2025, with no questions from members.

The final item on the agenda involved the appointment of Senator Bobby Joe Champion as the chair of the subcommittee on ethics. Senator Pappas, who had temporarily filled the role, made a motion to restore Senator Champion to the position. Senator Johnson raised concerns regarding Senator Champion's previous ethics complaints, questioning the appropriateness of his return to the chair. In response, Senator Champion clarified that he had requested to step down to ensure transparency during the ethics review process. Senator Frentz defended the motion, arguing that not reinstating Senator Champion could send a negative signal about the committee's commitment to ethical standards. Ultimately, the motion to appoint Senator Champion was supported by the committee.

In conclusion, the meeting addressed key administrative changes that reflect ongoing efforts to support legislative staff and uphold ethical standards within the Minnesota Senate. The committee's decisions will be implemented as they move forward into the next legislative session.