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Committee advances bill to identify annual cost-of-living increases for state retirees in budget
Summary
HB158 would require the annual budget to include a line item specifying cost-of-living increases for state employees and retirees; a committee amendment limited benefit increases to one per quadrennium starting Nov. 4, 2026.
The committee voted to give HB158 a favorable report after considering an amendment that changes how and when cost-of-living increases for state retirees and employees are provided.
Representative Klaus said the bill's purpose is procedural: to require the budget to identify, each year, a line item for the cost-of-living increase so the amount is explicitly budgeted rather than handled as an off-budget or one-time adjustment. Chairman Albritton offered an amendment that sets a commencement date of Nov. 4, 2026, and limits retiree benefit increases to one per legislative quadrennium (one increase every four years) under the act. The amendment passed and was described in committee as "popular."
Committee members asked whether the quadrennial limit made the change effectively a bonus rather than an ongoing COLA; proponents said a bonus differs from ongoing COLA because a COLA is expected to be recurring while the amendment makes a discrete, budget-identified action once per quadrennium. Members had no further questions after sponsor remarks and approved the bill by voice vote.
The committee recorded the favorable report and forwarded HB158 with the adopted amendment. No fiscal totals were included in the committee discussion on the record; sponsors said the budget would specify the amount when presented each year.
