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Committee approves $1.27 million in dedicated funds for DOPL inspector pay, fleet, and IT replacements
Summary
The committee approved a $1,268,900 package from dedicated funds for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses to raise inspector pay, replace vehicles and update hardware.
The Joint Finance Corporation Committee approved $1,268,900 in dedicated funds for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) to address inspector pay, replace fleet vehicles and update IT hardware.
Budget analyst introduced the request and said DOPL regulates more than 200,000 licensees across 45 boards and commissions and is funded entirely through dedicated fee revenue. The request includes roughly $222,000 ongoing for inspector pay increases (an average of $0.95 per hour for 92 full-time inspector positions); $900,500 one-time to replace 23 vehicles (a partial fleet refresh, including multiple Ford F-150s and other models); and $146,400 one-time for hardware recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services (76 laptops, docking stations and conference-room equipment).
The motion to add $1,268,900 in dedicated funds for FY2026 was moved by Representative Furness and seconded by Senator Quick. The committee voted to advance the measure with a do-pass recommendation; the clerk announced the grand total as 16 ayes and 4 nays and the chair stated the motion will go forward as a bill with a do-pass recommendation.
Analysts told the committee the inspector-pay enhancement responds to high turnover and vacancy rates in inspector positions, citing exit interviews that identified below-industry pay as a primary driver. The fleet replacement request targets vehicles used by inspectors and the bureaus they serve; the IT request replaces roughly 27% of DOPL's laptops and updates conference-room connectivity in two offices.
