As we previously shared in the budget cycle blog, the joint budget hearings are an especially important part of the legislative cycle. These hearings give the agencies an opportunity to present their LAR (Legislative Appropriations Request) to the budget committee , and for the committee to hear public testimony in support of the request.
TPEA's primary focus was providing testimony and support to all agencies that request pay increases in their LARs. This includes both targeted and across-the-board raises. Data and research shows that regular salary increases:
- Reduce employee turnover
- Increase longevity of employee tenure
- Boost retirement pensions
- Contribute to employee morale and job satisfaction
Legislative consultant and long-time
TPEA member Ray Hymel gets signed in to testify.
TPEA attended over 45 joint budget hearings to testify on behalf of pay raises for state employees at the following agencies:
| Bond Review Board | Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas | Commission on the Arts | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Employees Retirement System (ERS) | Historical Commission | Library and Archives Commission | Office of the Attorney General |
| Office of the Governor | State Office of Risk Management | Veterans Commission | Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) | Department of State Health Services (DSHS) | State Commission on Judicial Conduct | Court of Criminal Appeals | Office of Capital and Forensic Writs |
| Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council | State Law Library | Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney |
Supreme Court of Texas (14 courts) |
Alcoholic Beverage Commission | Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) | Department of Public Safety (DPS) | Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) |
| Commission on Law Enforcement | Animal Health Commission | Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) | Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) | Railroad Commission | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) | Department of Transportation (TxDOT) | Texas Lottery Commission |
| Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) | Department of Insurance (TDI) | State Office of Administrative Hearings | Office of Public Insurance Counsel | Office of ?Public Utility Counsel | Racing Commission | Securities Board | Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners |
| Board of Chiropractic Examiners | Texas State Board of Dental Examiners | Board of Pharmacy | Executive Council of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Examiners | Funeral Service Commission | Health Professions Council | Optometry Board | Board of Plumbing Examiners |
Visit the Joint Budget Hearings 2024 page to watch each testimony.
One of the highlights of the hearings was our Board President Carroll Fuchs joining us to testify at the ERS hearing on behalf of a benefits enhancement for all state retirees. See his testimony below!
If you'd like to see the full hearing videos, please visit the Texas House of Representatives site.
TPEA remains deeply committed to supporting salary increases for state employees, and a meaningful benefit enhancement for state retirees this coming session. We hope you'll join us in reaching out to lawmakers using the Advocacy Action Center to make your voice heard. As we get closer to the start of the session, we'll have more calling and emailing campaigns to ensure that the needs of state employees and retirees are front and center with our legislators.
Join TPEA today; we're your friend at the Capitol!