"We cannot have an effective state government without excellent employees. I am proud to have proposed the first raise for state employees to pass in close to a decade and I appreciate the work of the legislature in approving the pay increase as well as a one-time bonus for retired state employees," Ivey said. "Our teachers mold our children and thus our teachers mold our future – that's why I proposed a teacher pay raise and why I am pleased to sign it into law."