PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 1744132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Modify Provisions of the State Civil Service System Governing Employee Recruitment and Retention

Sponsored By: David Rollins (Democratic)

Became Law

STATE GOVERNMENTSTATE GOVERNMENT - STATE PERSONNEL

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Compression fixes and pay protection for state workers

The committee must review salary compression and may recommend fixes when gaps are over 4 steps in a grade. If there is no money for compression fixes, the request still moves forward and costs go to the next Governor’s budget; the agency does not have to pay without a legislative appropriation. The officer must give a written decision within 30 days after the committee’s final recommendation. Any approved adjustment is reviewed at least every 4 years and updated to match the market. If a later review lowers or ends an adjustment, current employees keep their pay; changes apply only to new hires.

Process to raise pay for hard-to-fill state jobs

Agencies or unions file a request with Human Resources on set forms. Within 30 days, the officer checks if freezes, planned attrition, or other listed causes explain vacancies; if not, a committee forms. An adjustment requires all three: high turnover or long vacancies, failed recruiting at current pay, and verified long‑term market pay gaps. A committee with HR, the agency, and the union (if any) studies the case and votes on recommendations. Pay stays within plan ranges unless changed through this process. Agencies must have funds, or the cost goes to the next budget; without a legislative appropriation, no payment is owed. This replaces the prior special‑adjustment rule that was repealed.

Appeal rights on pay adjustment decisions

You have 10 business days to appeal the officer’s written decision. If you are unrepresented, you may appeal to the civil service appeals board; if represented, you may use a neutral arbitrator chosen with help from the Labor Relations Board if needed. Any decision that needs new money still depends on a legislative appropriation before payment is made. If the officer refused to form a committee, an appeal can only order the committee to be formed.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • David Rollins

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Pinny H. Beebe-Center

    Democratic • Senate

  • Richard A. Bennett

    Independent • Senate

  • Suzanne Salisbury

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 623

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    3/25/2026Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/24/2026House

  4. COMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-857), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.

    3/19/2026Senate

  5. Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-857) READ and ADOPTED. ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY.

    3/18/2026Senate

  6. CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-857).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/17/2026House

  7. Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025House

  8. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/23/2025Senate

  9. Committee on LABOR suggested and ordered printed. On motion of Representative ROEDER of Bangor, the Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/22/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation