Legislative Changes Affecting Salary Administration, 89th Legislature

Changes to Salary/HR Administration

Changes to Salary Schedule

The General Appropriations Act (GAA), Article IX, Part 2, contains the approved salary schedules for employees covered by the Position Classification Plan for fiscal 2026 and 2027. Salary group A4 is removed from salary schedule A and a new salary group, B37, is added to salary schedule B. The salary amounts for the rest of the salary groups on salary schedules A, B and C for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 are unchanged from the amounts in fiscal 2025. See the Classification Salary Schedule for Fiscal 2026-27.

New Salary Schedule C Job Classifications and Changes to Hazardous Duty Pay Eligibility

House Bill 2467 requires commissioned peace officers of the State Fire Marshal’s Office at the Texas Department of Insurance to be compensated according to salary schedule C. Additionally, it changes hazardous duty pay authority to entitle these employees to receive that pay. This bill also authorizes paid leave for these employees as the result of an injury incurred in the performance of the officer’s duties so long as the injury does not occur due to the officer’s negligence or while performing routine office duties.

Senate Bill 502 requires commissioned peace officers of the Health and Human Services Commission’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) to be compensated according to salary schedule C. Additionally, it changes hazardous duty pay authority to entitle these OIG employees to receive that pay. This bill also authorizes paid leave for these employees as the result of an injury incurred in the performance of the officer’s duties so long as the injury does not occur due to the officer’s negligence or while performing routine office duties.

Senate Bill 1171 requires commissioned peace officers of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) to be compensated according to salary schedule C. Additionally, it makes changes to hazardous duty pay authority to entitle these OIG employees to receive that pay. This bill also authorizes paid leave for these employees as the result of an injury incurred in the performance of the officer’s duties so long as the injury does not occur due to the officer’s negligence or while performing routine office duties.

Senate Bill 1321 requires commissioned peace officers of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to be compensated according to salary schedule C. Additionally, it makes changes to hazardous duty pay authority to entitle these employees to receive that pay. This bill also authorizes paid leave for these employees as the result of an injury incurred in the performance of the officer’s duties so long as the injury does not occur due to the officer’s negligence or while performing routine office duties.

Exceptions for Salary Schedule C

The stipend amounts authorized in the GAA, Article IX, Section 3.12 for commissioned peace officers at certain agencies are increasing.

Education level and certification level monthly pay amounts are changing from $50, $100 and $150 to $100, $200 and $300 for each respective level, while the monthly bilingual pay stipend amount is increasing to $100 from $50.

Additionally, beginning Sept. 1, 2025, eligible commissioned peace officers are no longer limited to receiving either the education level or certification level stipend in the same month; if eligible, they can receive both stipends.