House passes resolution rejecting automatic legislator pay increase

Representative Gordon Snow introduced House Joint Resolution 201 on the House floor, saying the Legislative Compensation Commission’s recommendation "becomes effective unless the legislature runs a resolution denying and refusing the increase," and proposing the body exercise that denial during a time of budget rebalancing.

Snow framed the resolution as bipartisan, noting close sponsors "from almost every member of the house, both Democratic and Republican," and asked the House to take responsibility for reductions in the budget by refusing the automatic raise. No members rose to speak in opposition during floor debate.

The presiding Speaker called the roll and closed the vote. House Joint Resolution 201 received 68 yes votes, 0 no votes, and will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.

The resolution does not itself change statute; rather, under the current statutory process the commission’s recommendation would become effective unless the legislature passes a resolution rejecting it. The sponsor and other members characterized the vote as a symbolic and policy decision aligned with the House’s position on budget restraint.

Next steps: the resolution will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.