Committee backs bill to align Minnesota state active‑duty pay with federal pay tables

House File 46‑15, recommended by the House Veterans Division on a voice vote, would amend Minnesota Statutes §192.49 to simplify duplicate subdivisions and update the statutory minimum base pay for state active‑duty National Guard members so it tracks the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) pay tables.

Scott Roeeder, executive director of the Department of Military Affairs, told the committee the bill makes two changes: "First, it simplifies the language removing duplicate subdivisions that cover officer and enlisted members separately. Secondly, it modifies the minimum base pay of $130 per day set by the Minnesota legislature back in 1997, to today's aligning the minimum base pay to the grade of E5 within the defense accounting services pay tables," and would allow future cost‑of‑living adjustments to flow automatically with DFAS updates.

Major General Sean Mankie, the adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard, introduced the department's testimony and noted the National Guard has performed large amounts of state active duty in recent years. Roeeder said the 1997 $130 per‑day statutory minimum is far below current pay levels for lower enlisted grades and that aligning the statutory floor to a DFAS grade both raises pay for the lowest ranks and removes the need for repeated statutory fixes.

Vice Chair Olsen urged the division to move the bill forward, saying the change "ensures that our soldiers and airmen are paid at a level in which they deserve" and that statutory alignment prevents the law from becoming effectively obsolete when federal pay grades change. The division voted by voice to recommend HF 46‑15 be referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

The bill carries a Department of Military Affairs budget note for this year, but DMA told the committee the measure itself will not change DMA's budget because emergency funds for each activation are allocated under Minnesota statute.