Requests the Firefighters' Retirement System to study the feasibility of merging members of the New Orleans Firefighters' Pension and Relief Fund hired after a certain date into the system
Summary
House Resolution 163 is a nonbinding legislative request directing the actuary for the legislative auditor, working with the actuaries for both firefighter retirement systems, to conduct an actuarial investigation into whether certain members of the New Orleans Firefighters' Pension and Relief Fund should be merged into the statewide Firefighters' Retirement System. The study is limited to members hired after a certain date and is intended to evaluate both the cost and the practical feasibility of such a merger under the existing statutory framework.
The resolution highlights the contrast between the two systems: the statewide Firefighters' Retirement System is described as relatively well funded and actuarially stable, while the New Orleans fund is described as severely underfunded. The resolution also notes that New Orleans firefighters hired at different times are subject to different eligibility and accrual rules, whereas the statewide system uses uniform retirement rules. The report is due to the House Committee on Retirement by December 31, 2025.
Impact
HR 163 does not itself change pension benefits, eligibility, or funding obligations in state law. Instead, it triggers an actuarial review under R.S. 11:2260(11)(d) to inform whether a future merger of certain New Orleans firefighters into the statewide retirement system would be financially and administratively feasible. Its practical effect is to place the issue before the legislative auditor's actuary and the House Committee on Retirement, potentially setting the stage for later legislation affecting the Firefighters' Pension and Relief Fund and the Firefighters' Retirement System.
Sentiment
The sentiment reflected in the resolution and the vote is broadly supportive of studying consolidation as a way to improve retirement security for New Orleans firefighters while relying on the more stable statewide system. The House passed the resolution unanimously, indicating little overt opposition at the chamber level. The language of the resolution frames the proposal as a responsible, actuarially grounded inquiry rather than an immediate policy change.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the financial and structural impact of merging a deeply underfunded local pension fund into a healthier statewide system. Potential concerns include who would bear any added liability, whether the merger would affect current members' accrued benefits, and how to reconcile different eligibility and accrual rules between the two plans. Supporters appear to emphasize fairness, sustainability, and uniformity for New Orleans firefighters, while any opposition would likely center on cost, risk transfer, and the implications for the statewide system and its employers.
Redistricts the Louisiana Supreme Court to increase the composition of the court from seven to nine justices. (2/3 - CA5s4)(Item #3)(See Act) (EG INCREASE GF EX See Note)