Senate panel advances 3% salary schedule increase and county-by-county market pay enhancement after heated debate

The Senate Finance Committee voted to report a committee substitute for House Bill 47 65 that would raise base salary schedules for state police troopers, state police administration support specialists, forensic laboratory employees, teachers and school service personnel by roughly 3%, effective July 1, 2026, and establish a market pay enhancement later tied to county and regional median home income.

Counsel told the committee the increase is "approximately 3 percent" and described the market-pay formula: the State Board of Education or superintendent of the State Police would compute two multipliers using U.S. Census Bureau median-home-income figures (state, regional and county) and use the higher multiplier to set the enhancement amount, with the enhancement capped at 20% of the average teacher’s basic or a state policeman’s base salary for that county. The amendment directs that the first pay enhancement would occur July 1, 2027, and requires reporting to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance when an enhancement is required.

The proposal prompted sharp debate from committee members who said the formula would leave many counties with no additional pay. "If it was up to me, I'd give everybody that's in this bill $20,000 a year pay raise," said the senator from Logan, who said a large portion of his district would receive nothing under the proposed enhancement. Another senator said three of his four counties would get little or nothing and described the package as difficult to support for that reason.

Senator Mason asked to delay the bill to give members more time to consider the strike-and-insert amendment; the chair declined, saying staff and counsel and a Department of Education representative were available to answer questions. The committee adopted the amendment and then called a division vote; the chair stated "There being 10 votes for, 6 votes against," and the committee reported the committee substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass.

The measure now moves to the full Senate for further consideration and any additional floor debate. The bill text and the county-by-county schedule will determine which local school systems and law-enforcement positions receive the enhancement.