Committee members engaged in an extended debate over proposed FY2026 changes to employee compensation that would affect permanent state employees, troopers, nurses and IT/engineering positions. Two main approaches were discussed: (1) a CEC-based package that included a $1.55-per-hour across-the-board increase for permanent employees (with additional targeted increases for troopers, nurses and market-based adjustments for IT/engineering positions) and (2) a substitute that proposed a $1.55-per-hour or 4% (whichever is higher) ongoing increase by merit and targeted market adjustments.

Representative Furness moved the CEC-based package (later amended during the session to explicitly include nonclassified IT/engineering staff and to correct numeric totals). Senator Cook offered a substitute motion seeking a $1.55-per-hour or 4% (whichever is higher) merit-based ongoing increase plus targeted market and specialty pay adjustments. Committee members debated philosophical differences (equal dollar increase vs. merit- or percentage-based increases), turnover at both high and low ends of the workforce, and implications for competing with private-sector pay.

During the floor of this meeting the committee experienced packet and wording issues: the original motions required numerical corrections and non-classified IT inclusion that staff needed time to format correctly. At the request of motion sponsors and with no objection from the committee, both the substitute motion and Representative Furness’s original motion were withdrawn to permit staff to correct the draft language and numbers; the committee adjourned without adopting a change to employee compensation and will revisit the matter in a subsequent session.

Speakers on both sides cited turnover statistics, market pressures for hard-to-fill specialties, and the need to balance fiscal prudence with recruitment and retention. Staff told members they would provide corrected text and updated tallies before the committee resumes consideration.