Senate committee approves $8,000 pay increase and pension changes for judges in committee substitute for SB 589

Senate Judiciary Committee members approved the committee substitute for the committee substitute for Senate Bill 589, a proposal that would increase the salaries of Supreme Court, intermediate appellate, circuit, family court judges and magistrates by $8,000 and alter several provisions of the judges' retirement system. The committee voted the measure to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, to be considered first by the finance committee.

The bill would allow a state employer contribution holiday until fiscal year 2030 or until the retirement plan's funded ratio drops below 150 percent, whichever comes first. Legislative counsel explained the measure would save “about anywhere between $1.2 to $1.4 million per year” while the holiday is in place and that “the total cost of the increased salary is a little over $3,000,000, counting increased benefits.”

Why it matters: The proposal combines an across-the-board pay increase with changes to pension calculations and survivor benefits that supporters say are intended to improve judicial…