[0:10] >> 2026 to 11:00AM or excuse me
[0:13] 11:00:02AM, and effect called
[0:15] the Minnesota Senate Committee
[0:16] and rules and Ministration to
[0:18] order.
[0:19] Thank you members for joining.
[0:21] We have 3 items on our agenda
[0:24] today dealing primarily with
[0:26] our employees and compensation.
[0:29] We're going to have secretary
[0:30] batter and and must and will
[0:32] join us.
[0:34] And the materials that we're
[0:37] discussing today were sent to
[0:38] everybody last Thursday and
[0:40] again again this morning.
[0:41] So hopefully you all have
[0:42] before you what it is that you
[0:44] need.
[0:46] We're going to begin and with
[0:47] the committee resolution and
[0:48] compensation and now Collin
[0:50] Secretary battering.
[0:52] >> Good morning. Madam Chair
[0:53] members, you have a document
[0:56] available to the COVID CR 0, 1,
[0:59] 9, Dash 20.
[1:01] That's a Senate Committee
[1:02] resolution of proposed
[1:03] resolution that provides cut 8%
[1:06] in a place at 10,
[1:08] much the same form as
[1:10] resolution approved last year.
[1:12] I can walk you through what in
[1:14] the document. The most
[1:16] important component of
[1:17] documents course annual salary
[1:19] increases for Senate employees.
[1:22] The document provides a 2%
[1:23] across the board increase for
[1:25] Senate employees and America
[1:27] full 1.5% of salaries.
[1:34] A word or 2 about the process
[1:37] used to arrive. Those numbers
[1:39] management advisory committee
[1:41] BN meeting earlier this year
[1:43] and that's about 4 times to
[1:46] consider how to set those
[1:47] amounts.
[1:49] The pressure is on the Senate
[1:50] budget at the outset of the
[1:52] year.
[1:54] Primarily health insurance
[1:56] increases were greater than had
[1:58] been forecasted for calendar
[2:00] year. 26 27
[2:03] and security costs have
[2:05] increased significantly.
[2:07] So
[2:08] the management advisory
[2:09] committee had to deal with
[2:11] trying to write it would be a
[2:13] competitive and also
[2:14] sustainable number for those
[2:16] increases
[2:19] before you get too much further
[2:20] of say this every time. But
[2:21] just to be sure of the
[2:23] management advisory committee
[2:25] is composed of myself, the
[2:26] director of human resources,
[2:28] director skirt and the Chiefs
[2:31] of staff of each caucus.
[2:32] Generally we operate a matter
[2:34] of the try-line consensus.
[2:36] My proposal is for the rules
[2:37] committee.
[2:39] So walking you through the
[2:41] document itself. Paragraphs
[2:43] were beginning on line. 1.8
[2:45] item provides the salary
[2:47] increases that I've just
[2:48] mentioned and provides the
[2:49] terms for the Indian minister.
[2:53] The document does call for the
[2:56] preparation of America plan by
[2:58] the director of human resources
[3:00] to provide guidance on how the
[3:02] merit increases are
[3:03] administered. That document,
[3:04] although does not need further
[3:06] proof of what it was committed
[3:07] is available to you in draft
[3:09] form. The documents that have
[3:10] been sent to you
[3:13] walking surely quickly to the
[3:15] document online. 1.2 1, her
[3:17] ready for tonight's treatment
[3:18] for employees who are at that.
[3:20] We max, that's consistent with
[3:22] what has been done in past
[3:23] years. Harris fighting online.
[3:26] 1.2 3 alliance allows is for
[3:29] technical adjustments to wages
[3:30] to keep them where they need to
[3:32] be in relation to each other
[3:36] and care at the VA and page
[3:38] July one
[3:40] and provides the authority for
[3:42] development of the mayor of
[3:43] plan that I referred to a
[3:45] moment ago
[3:47] being an ally to point age
[3:50] the authorizations provided for
[3:52] sending plays too
[3:56] up to 20 hours of cop or
[3:59] vacation time
[4:01] and what to what 1, 6, provides
[4:03] a standard language on it for a
[4:05] calm matches. That's
[4:08] and play option for either 1150
[4:11] in matching or up to 50 hours
[4:13] of vacation account it.
[4:16] And lastly, Paragraph B, it
[4:19] point to 6 provides the
[4:20] technology and communication
[4:22] station for another fiscal year
[4:24] in the same form that has been
[4:26] provided in the past.
[4:28] Happy to take any questions.
[4:31] >> Thank you, Secretary Bowden
[4:32] members to have questioned
[4:34] Senator Limmer.
[4:35] >> Yes, I do a secretary
[4:39] butter. And
[4:41] when we total the cost of
[4:43] health insurance expenses
[4:48] and then the let's say the cost
[4:50] of
[4:52] inflation.
[4:55] When you combine those costs,
[4:56] you know what that rate would
[4:58] be compared to
[5:00] the 2% that we're offering our
[5:02] employees.
[5:05] >> Secretary bothered.
[5:07] >> The senator, I want to make
[5:08] sure I understand the question.
[5:11] Are you referring to
[5:13] the expected health insurance
[5:15] premium increase that employees
[5:16] will be expected to pay their
[5:18] share the premium in addition
[5:20] to inflation?
[5:22] >> No, I was I was kind of
[5:25] playing off your words as you
[5:27] were explaining health care
[5:29] costs.
[5:30] And I'm I'm just wondering, are
[5:33] we
[5:34] or we'd this year even keeping
[5:36] up with inflation
[5:38] for our employee benefit?
[5:42] >> Sandra Bowden, thank you,
[5:44] Madam Chair. And senator,
[5:47] what I would say that is, you
[5:49] know, at this point, I think
[5:50] inflation has been pretty fluid
[5:51] number. It seems to be perhaps
[5:55] increasing, I think, the last
[5:57] month or to pay careful
[5:59] attention to that. Much of this
[6:01] will depend on the slate of
[6:02] time that you included within
[6:05] the previous year. I think what
[6:07] I would say senators were
[6:08] trying to do our best
[6:10] and recognize that. And I think
[6:13] also that
[6:15] most said employees are doing
[6:17] fairly well with the additional
[6:18] one have percent available and
[6:21] applaud the mayor of plan.
[6:23] So that provides yeah. In other
[6:25] words, it would look only at
[6:26] that 2% number when you're
[6:27] thinking about what's
[6:28] available, too, I would say
[6:30] almost all us and employees and
[6:32] hope that's helpful. It's
[6:33] really about the best they can
[6:33] do the other.
[6:35] >> The other question I would
[6:37] have to ask is, is the merit
[6:38] increases?
[6:41] Is it typical that every
[6:43] employee gets a merit
[6:45] recognition?
[6:47] >> Thank you, Senator Lemur
[6:48] center secretary about him.
[6:50] >> So said number,
[6:52] there's basically 3 levels what
[6:54] America plan theirs, not
[6:57] meeting expectations where
[6:58] there's still some possible
[7:00] amount available performance
[7:02] has met expectations that's
[7:03] very, really use. That would be
[7:04] think memory serves about up to
[7:06] one percent
[7:08] meeting would get into a
[7:10] believe 1.5
[7:14] and I may have misspoken
[7:15] anything not meeting. There's a
[7:17] range available up to 1.5
[7:19] meeting with a 1.5 and
[7:21] exceeding anywhere up to 2.5.
[7:24] Historically, you know, if
[7:25] you're looking for said the
[7:26] distribution of the plays,
[7:28] I would say
[7:29] most employees to see maybe not
[7:31] to the full extent of the 2 and
[7:34] a half percent. If you are
[7:36] doing some very rough for it,
[7:37] may take it. You know, I think
[7:40] it's reasonable to use the 1.5%
[7:42] for what's available to most
[7:44] almost all.
[7:47] >> Thank you, Senator Lugar,
[7:48] Senator Martin.
[7:49] >> And Secretary modern to be
[7:52] clear that 1.5% is the pool
[7:55] that's available. So in other
[7:56] words, the DFL Caucus, the
[7:58] Republican caucus are
[7:59] non-partisan. But average you
[8:02] has to average 1.5% of can't go
[8:04] above that. Have some are
[8:06] getting more equal. The number
[8:08] of to get less
[8:11] secretary about him.
[8:12] >> Madam chair to rage. That is
[8:14] in essence, correct. The pool
[8:16] provides, you know exactly what
[8:17] that is like a total dollar
[8:18] amount. And then the mayor of
[8:20] plan provides the limitations
[8:22] on should have minimum and
[8:24] maximum amounts within those
[8:27] ratings. So you're correct.
[8:29] And it's all balance out that
[8:30] the pulsar is a limiting
[8:31] factor.
[8:35] >> And members there is a memo
[8:36] and in our materials stay from
[8:39] Darren, half from human
[8:40] resources. If you have other
[8:42] questions after this meeting,
[8:45] he is a good resource for us.
[8:48] Are there other questions
[8:50] and the committee resolution on
[8:52] compensation
[8:55] seeing no questions and Senator
[8:57] rest moves to Adapt Committee
[8:59] resolution 19,
[9:02] all those in favor. Please say
[9:03] Aye, aye.
[9:07] And those opposed say no.
[9:09] And that motion is adopted.
[9:11] Thank you, members. Next, we'll
[9:13] move to that committee adoption
[9:15] of the Senate employee Rester
[9:17] and before I move to Secretary
[9:19] bad and that this is in our
[9:21] packets
[9:22] and this is a document that is
[9:24] sensitive in that it names
[9:26] members and salaries.
[9:28] So it is not distributed
[9:30] publicly, but it is available
[9:31] to the public. And if you'd
[9:32] like it, please reach out to
[9:35] our committee administrator as
[9:37] Rachel Carlson, you can find
[9:39] her e-mail online
[9:41] and because we want to make
[9:42] sure that if people want it,
[9:44] they can get their hands on it.
[9:45] But it is not something we
[9:46] readily distribute everybody
[9:47] because it contains sensitive
[9:50] personal information about
[9:51] salaries.
[9:53] And I think to turn now to
[9:54] Secretary Battered.
[9:57] >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
[9:58] So you have in the materials
[10:00] provided to you. The Senate
[10:02] roster dated 6/1/2026.
[10:07] is picking up on some of what
[10:09] Senator Murphy said. But the
[10:11] chair said if this is sensitive
[10:13] information, if you have
[10:15] questions about, but the
[10:17] practice for the rules
[10:18] committee has been to away
[10:20] referenced individual employees
[10:21] possibly may have questions,
[10:23] but, you know, a group or class
[10:25] of employees and certainly also
[10:27] happy to take questions offline
[10:28] as well as their individual
[10:29] concerns. We made every effort
[10:32] to make sure that the
[10:33] information is correct. The
[10:35] director of human resources and
[10:36] his team go out of their way to
[10:38] certainly this and give the
[10:41] Chiefs of staff the director's
[10:43] chair for myself the
[10:44] opportunity to review it and
[10:45] make sure all the information
[10:46] is accurate. It is a snapshot
[10:48] in time that has to be
[10:50] emphasized. So, you know,
[10:52] for example, a number of
[10:54] employees, well, very good.
[10:55] 08:00AM to 10:00AM separation
[10:57] from service and then dollars
[11:00] an ounce.
[11:02] Well, Larry, a
[11:04] based on promotional increases
[11:06] as possible and play might be
[11:08] eligible for promotion increase
[11:09] the day after tomorrow. You
[11:11] would see that reflected on
[11:12] this roster. So keep that in
[11:14] mind as you're making
[11:15] comparisons and so forth.
[11:17] You know, as as we look through
[11:19] this document, as you look
[11:21] through it,
[11:22] the
[11:24] the one thing I want to say
[11:25] here and in keeping with its
[11:27] past salary increase and he's
[11:28] had received some feedback that
[11:31] has been generally very
[11:33] positive in terms of how the
[11:34] Senate is doing the city, the
[11:36] employment market.
[11:38] I think we're in a position now
[11:40] where Irene is more competitive
[11:42] edge. That's that's certainly
[11:44] what I've heard. I welcome any
[11:45] and all feedback that
[11:47] supervisors, others, any hiring
[11:49] managers, you know, any of you
[11:53] would have for me regarding
[11:54] that competitiveness. We're
[11:56] what we're trying to accomplish
[11:57] here is, you know that so
[12:01] careful line between keeping
[12:02] the Senate budget using that
[12:04] very sustainable fashion and
[12:05] remaining competitive with with
[12:07] the work that's been done in
[12:08] the previous years to improve
[12:10] Senate salary, competitive
[12:11] bids.
[12:12] That's what I would have to
[12:14] tell you about the roster and
[12:15] again, as always happy to take
[12:17] any questions.
[12:20] >> And really made you have a
[12:20] question or raise your hands to
[12:22] oh, I'm sorry. So no, I do not
[12:24] have a question. Thank you,
[12:26] Senator Murray.
[12:27] >> Thank you. Madam Chair and
[12:29] Secretary Modern appreciate
[12:32] hearing that you feel they're
[12:34] fairly that our wages are
[12:35] getting more competitive out of
[12:37] curiosity.
[12:39] Is there anybody maybe they're
[12:40] in part for some of the tracks?
[12:42] How many people are losing to
[12:44] other positions that we think
[12:46] are leaving because of wages
[12:49] and sort of thing or is that I
[12:51] haven't heard a lot of people I
[12:52] left to take a much better
[12:53] paying job somewhere else.
[12:55] And I know that happens.
[12:57] But curious if there's if you
[12:59] know, sit down, tick in the
[13:00] number of people doing that.
[13:04] >> And Marty Sex, a sick
[13:05] Secretary Bowden.
[13:06] >> Thank you. Madam Chair, out
[13:07] of practice your apologists
[13:09] tonight, Renee. So summer
[13:12] anecdotally, I would say I
[13:13] think that's true. Retention
[13:15] has improved clay,
[13:19] you know, certain for more
[13:21] comprehensive look at the debt
[13:22] or something more grounded.
[13:23] And, you know, let's say the
[13:24] experience the past 6 months,
[13:27] they can check in with the
[13:29] director of human resources and
[13:30] just follow up more informally
[13:32] with you. I think it's a good
[13:33] question and maybe we need to
[13:35] be very mindful of that.
[13:36] Again, we want to retain the
[13:38] advantage that has been
[13:39] created.
[13:44] >> Thanks, Senator Marty.
[13:45] And I know there's been a real
[13:46] effort on the part of the
[13:48] Senate, too,
[13:51] make sure that the salaries are
[13:52] competitive.
[13:54] So we retain a talent.
[13:57] Are there other questions
[14:01] and seeing no questions.
[14:02] Senator Marty moves
[14:04] to approve the Senate employee
[14:06] roster dated 6/1/2026.
[14:10] seeing no questions. All those
[14:11] in favor. Please say Aye.
[14:13] Aye, aye.
[14:15] And those opposed say no.
[14:17] And that motion is adopted.
[14:19] Thank you, members
[14:21] and last and we'll take up this
[14:24] ended Senate in travel
[14:25] expenses, improved an memo and
[14:28] now turned to Director Stengel.
[14:32] >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
[14:33] This is the interim travel
[14:35] expense and pretty memo.
[14:37] This is very similar to what
[14:39] you've seen in past years.
[14:42] The first section talks about
[14:43] Purdue mileage, lodging and
[14:44] travel expenses. The next
[14:46] section talks about authorize
[14:47] reimbursements
[14:49] for certain types of business
[14:51] related to your position and
[14:52] its members. The communication
[14:54] reimbursement is the same as
[14:55] last year. Constituent service
[14:57] mileage is the next section.
[14:58] And then finally in in-state
[15:00] and out-of-state travel
[15:01] guidelines,
[15:02] this is all the same that
[15:04] you've seen in years past,
[15:05] except for the day to been
[15:06] updated. And the IRS mileage
[15:08] rate has been updated to match
[15:09] the current virus mileage rate
[15:11] and 72.5 cents per mile.
[15:14] And then there were some minor
[15:15] formatting changes from the
[15:16] memo from last year. But
[15:17] otherwise, the memo and its
[15:20] contents remain the same.
[15:23] >> Thank you, Istanbul,
[15:26] Senator Johnson.
[15:28] >> Thank you. Madam Chair.
[15:30] I just want him to make one
[15:32] point on here, too. I know this
[15:33] is this is not going to change
[15:35] in this year's document, but it
[15:38] was brought to my attention
[15:39] just
[15:40] a half an hour ago or so.
[15:42] >> That, you know, underneath
[15:44] the authorized reimbursements,
[15:46] if that bullet headline that's
[15:48] undermined,
[15:50] you know, there's a number of
[15:51] things that were authorized for
[15:53] reimbursement on
[15:56] back in 2022, the memo used to
[15:59] have a line in there that had a
[16:02] part of the reimbursement
[16:04] authorization was majority
[16:06] leader, assistant majority
[16:07] leader, president of the
[16:08] Senate, but that also minority
[16:10] leader for appropriate duties.
[16:12] And
[16:14] as we are, you know, having a
[16:16] few changes within our
[16:18] leadership staff right now are
[16:20] we're finding that, you know,
[16:21] there's there's more duties
[16:23] that I'm kind of been
[16:24] responsible for on this stuff.
[16:25] And so
[16:27] is there an opportunity here to
[16:29] to address at otherwise looks
[16:31] like everything else kind of us
[16:32] go through the majority leader
[16:34] and we're not sure
[16:36] those expenses are authorized
[16:39] to reimbursable
[16:41] for the minority leader duties
[16:43] to.
[16:47] >> The judge. Can you just you
[16:49] draw my attention to where in
[16:50] the memo to a chill.
[16:52] >> So that that's yeah, I'm
[16:53] sorry. She clarified so in the
[16:54] current mental there's hasn't
[16:56] been a change or a thing.
[16:57] And this year I think this
[16:58] happened probably back in 23 or
[17:00] 24
[17:03] but are littered. It's about
[17:04] time.
[17:06] But we're just comparing notes
[17:07] between the 2022 mammal,
[17:10] which we can send it over to
[17:12] you. I just received it here a
[17:14] few minutes ago.
[17:16] And so there's a line that was
[17:18] taken out that just highlights
[17:20] majority leader, Assistant
[17:22] majority leader, president of
[17:23] the Senate minority leader for
[17:25] their appropriate duties with
[17:27] then their caucus structures.
[17:30] And so just wondering if that's
[17:32] something that we could maybe
[17:34] I will time to reflect on a
[17:37] going forward here
[17:39] just that we know because we
[17:40] just don't have clarity on on.
[17:42] Are those duties the left come
[17:44] down and address or those
[17:47] covered or not?
[17:48] >> Okay, that you're looking
[17:49] for a pretty Senator Johnson
[17:51] for those days.
[17:52] >> Well, this is the author as
[17:54] reimbursements. So it will be
[17:56] those expenses that are
[17:57] incurred in the duties of
[17:59] coming down.
[18:01] >> Thanks for raising it,
[18:02] Senator Johnson and yes,
[18:03] let's talk it through
[18:05] to make sure. And I I just like
[18:06] to see where I was back there.
[18:08] >> I appreciate those already
[18:10] do this. I just want to talk
[18:12] about this today. It's OK,
[18:15] I'm happy to take it up with
[18:16] you,
[18:19] Senator Front.
[18:20] >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
[18:21] Thank you. Senator Johnson.
[18:22] I'm interested in hearing or as
[18:24] well figures minority in the
[18:26] way we provide for some very
[18:28] important Senator Johnson
[18:31] to know when that change was
[18:32] made, it was president 2022,
[18:35] do we know at what point there
[18:37] was up
[18:38] removal? That's the right term.
[18:40] Thank you, Madam Chair. That
[18:41] under Johnson.
[18:43] >> To Johnson. Yeah. It and I
[18:45] don't know the exact the
[18:47] interment that was made.
[18:48] It was either in the 23 in term
[18:51] were the 24 inter. So I'm not
[18:54] sure which one it was, but we
[18:56] can get that information over.
[18:58] >> Thank you, Senator Johnson,
[19:00] that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
[19:01] Looking forward to that
[19:02] discussion.
[19:04] >> And Madam Chair, Senator
[19:05] Johnson, I just got a text that
[19:07] said it was the 23
[19:10] after the 23 year.
[19:15] >> Thank you, Senator Johnson,
[19:16] thank you. Senator France will
[19:18] have that follow-up
[19:19] conversation and I'm glad to
[19:20] call that out.
[19:21] On that note,
[19:25] as we're talking about changes
[19:27] we wear in order to maintain
[19:29] the stability of our budget.
[19:32] In a news that of hiring pause.
[19:36] I'm not a freeze
[19:38] but a pause and with the
[19:40] intention of making sure if we
[19:42] have positions to fill that
[19:43] there's a process for the Mac
[19:45] to do that. And I think it is
[19:47] important to acknowledge day
[19:49] since departure right at the
[19:50] end of session and then
[19:51] important role to be filled.
[19:53] And so while we have often used
[19:55] to freeze and just said no
[19:57] hiring
[19:58] and we're going to pause, but
[19:59] we want to make sure there's a
[20:00] process by which the Mac can
[20:02] take up those questions.
[20:04] So we have to compliment to
[20:05] staff necessary for caucuses
[20:11] chair.
[20:12] >> Senator Reid should
[20:13] appreciate the recognition and
[20:15] accommodation for
[20:18] for our group or 2. So
[20:20] absolutely in conversations as
[20:22] things kind of progress here.
[20:23] Thank you.
[20:26] >> Are there any questions on
[20:27] the interim travel expenses and
[20:29] pretty a memo
[20:32] and seeing no questions.
[20:33] Senator Pappas moves
[20:35] to approve the interim travel
[20:37] expenses and pretty letter
[20:38] dated 6/1/2026. All those in
[20:41] favor. Please say Aye. Aye.
[20:44] And the House I know.
[20:47] And that motion is adopted
[20:49] there being no further business
[20:51] before the Rules Committee.
[20:52] This meeting is adjourned.
[20:53] Thank you. Members
[20:55] have a good summer