By: Vasut H.B. No. 1326
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the frequency of pay for state employees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 659.081, 659.082, and 659.083,
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
Sec. 659.081. PAYMENT ONCE A MONTH. Except as provided by
this subchapter or the General Appropriations Act, annual salaries
for state officers [and employees] shall be paid once a month.
Sec. 659.082. PAYMENT TWICE A MONTH. (a) A state [An]
employee shall [is entitled to] be paid employment compensation
twice a month [if:
(1) the employee is employed by:
(A) the Texas Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation;
(B) the Texas Department of Transportation;
(C) the Texas Department of Human Services;
(D) the Texas Workforce Commission;
(E) the Department of Public Safety; or
(F) any other state agency designated by the
comptroller;
(2) the employee holds a classified position under the
state's position classification plan;
(3) the employee's position is classified below salary
group Al2 under classification salary Schedule A in the General
Appropriations Act;
(4) the employing state agency satisfies the
comptroller's requirements relating to the payment of compensation
twice a month; and
(5) at least 30 percent of the eligible employees of
the agency choose to be paid twice a month.
(b) Employees of an institution of higher education as
defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, may be paid twice a month
at the election of the employing institution of higher education].
Sec. 659.083. PAYDAY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection
(b), the comptroller may not pay the salary of a state officer or
employee before the first working day of the month following the
payroll period.
(b) The comptroller shall pay a state [an] employee [who is
paid twice a month under Section 659.082] on:
(1) the first working day of the month following the
payroll period that covers the last half of the preceding month; and
(2) the 15th day of the month or the first working day
after the 15th for the payroll period that covers the first half of
the month.
(c) In this section, "working day" means a day other than
Saturday, Sunday, or a national holiday as listed in the General
Appropriations Act or Chapter 662. A day does not cease to be a
national holiday because a state agency maintains or is required to
maintain a minimum working staff on the holiday.
SECTION 2. Sections 659.081, 659.082, and 659.083,
Government Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to compensation
due for services rendered on or after September 1, 2025. Employment
compensation due for services rendered prior September 1, 2025, is
governed by the law in effect on the date the services were
rendered, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.