Bill > SB28

This bill, the Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026, aims to strengthen the collective bargaining process for state employees by requiring the Governor to include in every budget bill the necessary appropriations to fund all terms and conditions of employment agreed upon in any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the state and its employees, including those in higher education. It also establishes a process for selecting a neutral arbitrator from a pre-approved list if negotiations reach an impasse, with the arbitrator's decision being binding unless it requires a change in law or appropriation, which would then need approval from the General Assembly. The bill also mandates that the Governor's budget submission must detail proposed expenditures for MOUs and changes in wages, hours, and benefits for state employees, and it proposes a constitutional amendment to reflect these changes, which will be put to a vote in the November 2026 general election.