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Senate approves temporary reduction in legislators’ daily pay as part of budget measures
Summary
The Senate passed House Bill 410 to impose a temporary 10% reduction to legislators’ daily pay (reducing the base to about $117/day) as part of wider budget-cutting measures; senators debated equity for remote legislators, travel and housing reimbursements, and whether savings should be donated to nonprofits.
House Bill 410, proposing a temporary reduction in legislative daily pay as a part of broader budget adjustments, was debated on the floor and approved. Sponsors described the measure as one component of roughly $300,000 in cuts the Legislature faces and said the pay reduction was a way for the legislative branch to share in statewide belt tightening.
Senator Hilliard introduced the measure as a 10% reduction in the explicit payment scheduled for 2010; the fiscal note attached to the bill cited a modest net savings of approximately $86,000. “This is a way to balance our budget,” the sponsor said, noting similar reductions applied across other state agencies.
Opponents raised equity and representation concerns. Senator Butters argued a pay reduction narrows who can afford to run for office and said a lower stipend disadvantages prospective candidates who cannot take unpaid time from jobs. Other senators asked whether the saved funds could be directed as donations to nonprofits such as food banks; Senator Romero and Senator Davis urged voluntary or directed charitable use of the savings.
Questions also focused on related allowances: Senator Valentine and others urged the body to examine housing allowances and per diem structures during the interim so reimbursements better reflect distance and need. Supporters said the measure is temporary and sunsets, and that other internal reforms (limiting out‑of-session travel, reducing staff overtime) would also produce savings.
The Senate approved HB 410 on a recorded roll call; the bill will be placed on the third-reading calendar and return to the House for signature actions as required.
What happens next: HB 410 passed on the floor and will proceed through the regular process; senators signaled intent to study housing allowances and related compensation mechanisms during the interim.
