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HB 1580

AN ACT to provide for a legislative management study relating to state employee compensation levels.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

The bill directs a 2025–26 interim study of the classified state employee total rewards system, including pay, classifications, and health benefits, with findings and potential imp

Filed with Secretary Of State 04/28
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Bill Summary · HB 1580

HB 1580 — Legislative Management Study on State Employee Compensation (Act 801)

Status: Enacted (Filed with Secretary of State 04/28/2025; Signed by Governor 04/28/2025)
Introduced: February 25, 2025 (Sixty‑ninth Legislative Assembly, North Dakota)

Purpose

Require the Legislative Management to consider and carry out a comprehensive interim study (2025–26) of the classified state employee “total rewards” compensation system to inform future policy and legislation affecting pay, classifications, and benefits.

Key provisions

  • Directs the Legislative Management, during the 2025–26 interim, to consider studying the classified state employee total rewards compensation system, including pay grade development/determination, employee classifications, and health care benefits.
  • Specifies topics the study must review (listed a–g): a. History of changes to classification and pay grade levels;
    b. Comparisons of compensation among state employees across departments and comparisons with similar private‑sector jobs;
    c. Use of equity funding and bonuses as employee retention tools;
    d. Payment of prevailing wages on state projects;
    e. Wage levels used when awarding contracts for state projects;
    f. Impact of changes to health plan benefits; and
    g. Premium rate structures for single and family coverage and effects of proposed changes.
  • Requires the Legislative Management to report findings and recommendations — including any draft legislation needed to implement them — to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.

Who is affected

  • Classified state employees across all state departments (potentially affected by future pay, classification, and benefits changes).
  • State agencies that administer payroll, classifications, and health benefits.
  • Vendors and contractors on state projects (through prevailing wage and contract award wage considerations).
  • Legislators and budget officials (who will receive the study and any recommended legislation).

Timeline & procedural notes

  • Study window: 2025–26 interim (the period between legislative sessions).
  • Report due to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly (the next regular session following the interim).
  • Legislative Management has discretion to “consider studying” — language indicates the body should evaluate and, if it conducts the study, it must address the listed topics and prepare a report with recommendations and necessary implementing bills.

Potential impact

  • The study is fact‑finding and advisory; it does not itself change pay or benefits.
  • Findings could lead to legislative proposals affecting pay grades, classification structures, compensation comparability with the private sector, retention pay strategies, prevailing wage policy on public projects, and health plan design or premium structures.
  • Could influence budget requests and long‑term workforce retention strategies for state government.

Sponsors, votes & final status

  • Introduced by Representatives Vetter, Christianson, Dockter, Meier, Motschenbacher, D. Johnston; Senators Cleary and Cory.
  • House vote: Yeas 76, Nays 15. Senate vote: Yeas 47, Nays 0.
  • Enacted as Act 801; filed with Secretary of State and signed by the Governor on April 28, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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