Lawmakers raise concerns about removal of boilerplate employee protections after DNR staff report fear of discipline

Several members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources pressed the Department of Natural Resources on employee protections after budget testimony noted boilerplate Section 207 that once protected employees from discipline for contacting legislators was removed from executive branch budgets.

Representative Green asked why the executive branch removed Section 207 from the boilerplate and said employees had told him they feared discipline for talking to legislators. Jason Crandall, the DNR budget officer, said the removal was an executive-office decision and that there is nothing in statute preventing an employee from approaching a legislator, but he could not speak to broader state policy. He described the change as an "EOG decision."

Several members echoed concern. Representative McKinney and others told the committee they've received confidential reports from state employees who said they feared discipline or termination if their conversations with legislators were discovered. Chair Borton said the committee is compiling those reports and will have future discussions; he encouraged employees to bring concerns while noting they had sought anonymity.

What was said and what was not decided

No formal action or vote on employee protections occurred in the hearing. Committee members said they will continue the issue in future meetings and gather additional information. Jason Crandall did not provide a statutory citation that restored or replaced the boilerplate language; the transcript records his statement that the change was a statewide decision by the executive office.

Why this matters

Committee members said fear of discipline discourages employees from sharing information with legislators and can hinder legislative oversight. Lawmakers signaled they plan to pursue the matter further in later hearings.