Eight conservative Republican lawmakers are coming out against a proposed 19% pay raise for legislators.

And that sets up a potential confrontation with legislative leadership.

“On day one of the 2025 legislative session, we will introduce a concurrent resolution to reject this proposed salary increase and call on our fellow legislators to join us in standing against it,” the group of lawmakers said in a news release Friday. “Idahoans expect to see their elected officials prioritize policies that directly support hardworking families—not raises for themselves.”

The conservative group also says the Legislature should prioritize repealing the sales tax on groceries, calling it “a timely and meaningful way to help Idahoans struggling with the rising cost of living.”

On Wednesday, a citizens’ committee recommended a 19% pay raise for legislators.

If approved, Legislators would take home $31,512 per year in salary and travel and meal allowances, up from $26,425.

However, a bipartisan group of legislative leaders proposed a plan to increase take-home pay by 34%. Under this plan, rejected by the citizens’ committee, lawmakers would have received a $37,801 annual salary, and no “per diem” payment for meal expenses.

It will be up to legislators to decide what to do with the 19% pay raise proposal. They can approve it or lower it.

Six of the eight lawmakers opposing the pay raise are newcomers who will begin their first term later this year.

The lawmakers opposing the raise include Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld of Twin Falls and Sen.-elect Christy Zito of Hammett, who is returning to the Legislature.

The newcomers are Sen.-elect Josh Kohl of Twin Falls and Reps.-elect Lucas Cayler and Kent Marmon of Caldwell, Clint Hostetler and David Leavitt of Twin Falls and Faye Thompson of McCall.