Ways and Means committee receives Judicial Department pay plan proposing phased COLAs and added top step

The Joint Interim Committee on Ways and Means on Oct. 1 received a report from the Judicial Department proposing a phased increase to its personnel pay structure that would add a top salary step and two cost-of-living adjustments. Senator Broadman, reporting for the Public Safety Subcommittee, described a 2.5% COLA effective Feb. 1, 2026, a 4% COLA effective Jan. 1, 2027, and the addition of a top step to each compensation range effective Feb. 1, 2027. The subcommittee estimated the change would cost about $15,000,000 in total funds for the 2025–27 biennium and $42,200,000 for 2027–29.

Why it matters: The proposal affects state judicial branch employees' pay and will be part of upcoming budget deliberations. The chair noted statutory judgeships are excluded from this plan; by statute, judges’ COLAs are tied to executive branch management service employees and therefore are handled separately.

Committee discussion focused on retroactivity and budget pressure. Senator Druck said many increases are retroactive and asked that future materials include the deadline prompting retroactivity; she added that while she will vote to receive the report because she believes judges are underpaid, she also warned that compensation is a major share of the state budget and said, “the state is darn near broke.” The co‑chair called for objections and two members voiced objections on the record; the committee recorded the motion to acknowledge receipt as passed by voice.

Next steps: The committee’s action was to acknowledge receipt of the Judicial Department report. Any change that requires appropriation will be considered through the budget and policy process in subsequent sessions.