SF5288

Purpose

This bill changes how Minnesota legislators are paid. It aims to restrict per diem payments during regular sessions and to limit overall compensation to a defined set of items.

Key changes to pay and per diem

• Regular session pay timing and structure
  • Legislators’ compensation is due on the first day of the regular session and paid in equal parts on January 15 and the first day of each following month during the term.
  • For members elected at a special election, pay starts when they take the oath of office and is paid in portions on the oath date and then monthly thereafter.
• Mileage and travel
  • Legislators will continue to receive mileage for travel to and from the meeting place, paid at amounts authorized separately for Senate members and House members.
• Per diem during sessions
  • A member is prohibited from receiving per diem payments during a regular session.
  • If the legislature is not in a regular session, a member may receive per diem payments, but only in the amounts for the not-regular-session period as determined by the Senate (for Senate members) or the House (for House members).
• Certification
  • On January 15 and the first day of each following month, the Senate secretary and the House chief clerk must certify the amount of compensation payable to the Commissioner of Management and Budget.

Compensation limits and types

• New limitation on total compensation
  • A legislator must not receive compensation for legislative work beyond certain specified items.
• Allowed components of compensation 1) A salary set by the Legislative Salary Council under section 15A.0825. 2) State contributions to insurance benefits provided to all state employees under chapter 43A. 3) State contributions to the legislators’ retirement plan under chapter 3A or chapter 352D. 4) Other compensation provided under this section and under sections 3.101 and 3.103.
• Overall effect
  • The bill broadens explicit limits on what counts as compensation and ties pay to specific elements, potentially reducing or changing other forms of pay currently used.

Significant changes to existing law

• Prohibits per diem payments during regular sessions (removing a common component of legislator pay during the main session).
• Establishes a fixed framework for when and how pay is issued, including required certifications to state budget authorities.
• Adds a new subdivision limiting compensation to defined items, aligning legislative pay with a formal set of authorized components.

Potential impacts on stakeholders

• Legislators would have a clearer, capped set of compensation components and would forgo per diem during regular sessions.
• The salary level would be determined by the Legislative Salary Council, with other benefits (insurance, retirement) tied to standard state programs.
• The change could affect how lobbyists, staff, and watchdog groups discuss and track legislator compensation.

Relevant terms (glossary-style)

per diem, mileage, regular session, special session, compensation, salary, Legislative Salary Council, §15A.0825, Minnesota Statutes, 43A, Chapter 3A, Chapter 352D, Section 3.101, Section 3.103, Commissioner of Management and Budget, Senate, House, oath of office, certification.

Relevant Terms per diem, mileage, regular session, special session, compensation, salary, Legislative Salary Council, §15A.0825, Minnesota Statutes, 43A, Chapter 3A, Chapter 352D, Section 3.101, Section 3.103, Commissioner of Management and Budget, Senate, House, oath of office, certification.