HF3461 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Benefit rights for legislative leaves of absence from state and local government employment aligned.
Related bill: SF3693
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
To align benefits and seniority rules for state and local government employees who take a leave of absence to serve in the state legislature. The bill adds a specific provision to Minnesota statutes to protect employees’ benefits and service time while they are on legislative leave.
Main Provisions
- When an employee or officer is elected to the state legislature and must take a leave of absence under existing rules, they will retain rights to:
- accrued and future seniority status
- efficiency ratings
- vacation benefits
- insurance benefits
- sick leave
- other benefits
- as if the leave had not been taken
- The appointing authority may not subtract the period of mandatory legislative leave when calculating the employee’s length of service.
- Pension and retirement benefit rights for these employees will follow the rules for local government employees as described in Minnesota Statutes, section 3.088, subdivisions 3 and 6.
Significance and Impact
- Ensures legislative service does not penalize an employee’s career progression or benefits.
- Brings state legislative leave rules in line with local government practices for pension and retirement rights.
- Provides clear protection for benefits during periods of mandatory leave for legislative service.
Relevant Legal Reference
- Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 43A.32 by adding a subdivision (Subd. 4. Leave for legislative service).
How it works in practice
- An employee elected to the state legislature and placed on leave will still be treated as having continuous service for purposes of seniority, performance ratings, leave accrual, and benefit eligibility.
- The length of service calculation will not deduct the time spent on legislative leave.
- Retirement benefits will be determined according to the local government framework in section 3.088, ensuring consistency with local government rules.
Relevant Terms - leave for legislative service - accrued seniority status - efficiency rating - vacation benefits - insurance benefits - sick leave - length of service - mandatory legislative leave - pension and retirement benefit rights - local government employees - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 43A.32 - Subd. 4 - appointing authority
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | State Government Finance and Policy | |
| February 23, 2026 | House | Action | Author added | ||
| February 26, 2026 | House | Action | Author added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"New Subd. 4 in 43A.32 establishing Leave for legislative service and preserving benefits during leave."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds Subdivision 4 to Minnesota Statutes section 43A.32 to provide leave for legislative service. The new subdivision ensures that an officer or employee elected to state legislative office who takes a mandatory legislative leave retains accrued and future seniority status, efficiency rating, vacation, insurance benefits, sick leave, and other benefits as if the leave had not been taken; the appointing authority must not subtract the leave period when determining length of service. The pension and retirement benefit rights are aligned with those provided for local government employees under section 3.088, subdivisions 3 and 6.",
"modified": [
"No existing provisions in 43A.32 are modified other than the addition of Subd.4; cross-reference to 3.088 subtends existing law."
]
},
"citation": "43A.32",
"subdivision": "subd.4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill references Minnesota Statutes, section 3.088, subdivisions 3 and 6, to define pension and retirement benefit rights for employees taking legislative leave, aligning them with local government personnel. No direct changes to 3.088 are made in this bill; the reference simply applies existing rights.",
"modified": [
"References to 3.088 subdivisions 3 and 6 for pension and retirement rights; no textual modification to 3.088."
]
},
"citation": "3.088",
"subdivision": "subd.3 and subd.6"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee