On June 13, 2025, the Minnesota Senate Committee on Rules and Administration approved its 2025–27 biennial budget and a set of personnel policies that increase pay and adjust leave and travel rules for senate employees.

The budget document presented to the committee is a reformat of prior documents and reflects the first biennium in which some member‑related expenses are provided through a statutory appropriation, Secretary of the Senate Bodnar said. "What the document before you shows only what was proposed for the direct appropriation," Bodnar said, noting he will follow up with a separate flow‑of‑funds document to describe statutory appropriations and how they interact with the direct appropriation.

Committee members were told the only increases in the presented budget are related to the compensation resolution included in the packet. Betty Myers, the senate controller, provided a technical breakout for one new line item, saying the additional PFLMA contribution equals 0.0088 of the salary line.

The committee adopted the biennial budget dated 06/13/2025 by voice vote with a recorded tally of 10 ayes and no nays.

The personnel package approved by the committee implements changes recommended by the management advisory committee. Secretary Bodnar summarized the pay elements: "The salary increases include a 3 and a half percent across the board increase for all senate employees, and then also a merit plan that has a 2% salary base that's established, as of today." The draft merit plan will be finalized and posted on the HR website, staff said.

Other approved elements affecting employees include:
- A comp‑time and vacation cash‑out option allowing employees to exchange up to 40 hours of comp or vacation time for cash;
- A deferred compensation option that continues to offer either a $1,150 match or an exchange of 50 hours of vacation/comp time toward deferred compensation contributions;
- A technology and communications stipend of $50 per month per employee.

Separately, the committee adopted a permanent change to Senate Policy 2.4 on comp time for budget years: the cap on accrual in budget years increases from 220 hours to 260 hours, while the 220‑hour cap remains in non‑budget years. The committee applied the comp‑time change retroactively to Jan. 14, 2025. Senator Marty spoke in favor, saying the change recognizes extraordinary hours worked during the recent session and special session.

The committee also approved interim travel expenses and per diem updates dated 06/13/2025. Senate counsel Miss Stengel summarized the changes: lodging maximums increased from $150 to $200 per night, the IRS mileage rate was set at 70¢ per mile, travel guidance now explicitly references the Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) policy, and the airfare standard language was updated to reference "economy" rather than "coach." The motion to approve the interim travel and per diem letter was made and adopted.

Committee members praised staff work and recruitment and retention efforts tied to the compensation measures. "I'm really pleased the legislature found a way, to arrive at some salary increases that will do a lot for the senate," Secretary Bodnar said. Senator France and others thanked staff for their work.

No further administrative business was pending when the committee moved to the separate ethics subcommittee appointment (recorded separately).