Video & Transcript : 'retiree support' :
Page 37 of 500
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Mar 17th, 2025
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm here to support House Bill 201.
- I urge you to pass this bill to support our public servants and affirm our commitment to supporting Texas
- And this is why you're in support of this bill. Absolutely. Thank you so much.
- And I'm here to express my strong support for House Bill 272.
- We thank you for your support, Chairman and members, and you have a wonderful day.
Keywords:
disabled veteran, partially disabled veteran, veterans property tax exemption, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, surviving spouse, appraisal district, Tax Code, local government revenue, homestead portability, service-connected disability, veteran benefits, Texas property tax, residence homestead, disability rating, disaster response, financial assistance, helicopter, municipalities
HI
Bills:
SB3123, HB1853, HB1961, HB1965, HB1962, HB1959, HB2505, HB2576, HB1801, HB1804, HB1864, HB2319, HB2314, HB2115, HB1854, HB2062, HB1511, HB1535, HB2614, HB2282, HB1870, HB1695, HB1626, HB1643, HB1972, HB1550, HB1974, HB1966, HB1973, HB2545, HB1946, HB1939, HB1721, HB1741, HB1700
Keywords:
conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> support his position. support his position.
- </c><00:16:07.480><c> continuing</c> uplifting and supporting continuing uplifting and supporting continuing
- Both jurors testified in support of Mr.
- </c> support of governor's message 725. support of governor's message 725.
- Gluck's appointment to support of Mr.
Bills:
SB3123, HB1853, HB1961, HB1965, HB1962, HB1959, HB2505, HB2576, HB1801, HB1804, HB1864, HB2319, HB2314, HB2115, HB1854, HB2062, HB1511, HB1535, HB2614, HB2282, HB1870, HB1695, HB1626, HB1643, HB1972, HB1550, HB1974, HB1966, HB1973, HB2545, HB1946, HB1939, HB1721, HB1741, HB1700
Keywords:
conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement.(6-3-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- So, the they have to pay the retirees.
- </c><00:16:51.040><c> is</c> premiums that are paid if the retiree is premiums that are paid if the retiree
- But that's not happening when they hire retirees.
- So, you know, retirees haven't gotten a COLA for the past 10 years.
- So, you know, retirees haven't gotten a COLA for the past 10 years.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:54
Pension System Update 00:03:38, 958, all
Summary:
The committee held its first official interim meeting after merging the General Government and Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement committees, establishing a quorum and opening with the pledge and prayer. Members then received a briefing from KPPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Aaron Sarock on the state retirement systems, including KERS, CERS, and SPRS, and on the importance of fully funding the actuarially determined employer contribution, supplemental appropriations, and investment earnings in reducing unfunded liabilities. They said the systems have made progress toward a statutory closed amortization target of 2049 and emphasized that supplemental funding lowers current employer contribution rates but does not change that end date.
A major topic was federal and state reemployment-after-retirement rules for retirees who return to work with participating employers. KPPA explained that retirees must have a bona fide separation from service, no prearranged agreement to return, and generally a one-calendar-month break in service for retirees on or after January 1, 2024. If a member fails to comply, retirement benefits can be voided, payments stopped, health coverage ended, and benefits repaid. The presenters also noted that rehired retirees do not earn a second retirement account, and employers rehiring them must pay employer contributions and, in non-exempt cases, reimburse health insurance costs.
Members asked about the scale of rehired retirees and the difference between employer contribution and health insurance reimbursement amounts. KPPA said that in fiscal year 2025 there were over 3,500 rehired retirees in CERS and over 5,000 in SPRS, with substantial employer contributions and health reimbursement payments collected. They also explained that some positions are exempt from these chargebacks, including school resource officers and certain law enforcement positions that meet statutory criteria. The committee discussed House Bill 213, which allows cities, sheriffs’ departments, and post-secondary institutions to offer health insurance to rehired officers if authorized by the governing body, effective August 1, 2026, and clarifies the fiscal-year basis for certain exemption limits. No votes were taken.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement Apr 28th, 2026
Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement
Transcript Highlights:
- And then finally, we have nearly 56,500 retirees and beneficiaries.
- And if we're, if we have..." "...more on the liability side, especially those retirees who are receiving
- And there are some of 45,000 others who are, and hopeful, actually more when you consider the retirees
- There's probably more retirees in this geographic area than any part of the state.
- that I'm very proud to support.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement held an informational hearing on the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) to review its long-term financial condition, funding status, investment performance, experience study results, and possible legislation. MOSERS staff explained that the plan is a statutorily created defined benefit system covering state employees, several colleges and quasi-governmental entities, with an 11-member board and outside actuarial and investment consultants. They reported the June 30, 2025 valuation showed a funded ratio of 55.4%, assets of about $9.6 billion, liabilities of about $17.4 billion, and a FY27 actuarial employer rate of 27.44%, which the board raised to a 32% minimum contribution rate under a policy adopted in 2023.
MOSERS attributed the funding decline over time to several factors: reductions in the assumed investment return from 8.5% to 6.95%, mortality assumption updates, a move from open to closed amortization, and especially weak payroll growth and a shrinking active workforce. Staff said the minimum contribution policy is intended to accelerate UAL paydown and could bring the plan to 80% funded by 2037 rather than 2041, assuming all assumptions are met. The committee also discussed the recent experience study, which kept the investment return assumption at 6.95% and made only modest assumption changes, and a proposed 2026 bill package (SB 1557 and SB 1054) that would automatically refund small balances under $1,000 to terminated non-vested members and add auto-escalation to the deferred compensation plan.
A substantial portion of the hearing focused on investment strategy and why MOSERS has lagged some peers. The investment consultant said historical underperformance was driven mainly by asset allocation choices that emphasized a more risk-balanced, diversified portfolio with less public equity exposure than peers during a period when equities performed very strongly. He said the board adopted a more equity-oriented allocation in 2024 and is phasing it in over eight quarters, with recent short-term results improving and the portfolio outperforming its policy benchmark. Members also asked about the effect of inactive members, the rationale for the higher employer contribution, and whether the current board should be held responsible for past decisions; MOSERS officials emphasized that the current board is trying to correct course and that pension funding changes take time. The hearing also touched on ongoing litigation against a former private equity manager, Catalyst Capital, with MOSERS saying it has spent about $20 million in legal fees so far and that the case remains on appeal. The committee took no formal vote and adjourned after the informational presentation and questions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
MN House of Representatives' 2025 State Fair opinion poll results Sep 2nd, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Supporters of the idea to allow the school year to start before Labor Day say it gives school districts
- Supporters say the venues benefit the state's economy by millions of dollars.
- But supporters believe retirees and grandparents can give the younger generation an appreciation for
- But<00:04:21.120><c> supporters</c><00:04:21.600><c> believe</c><00:04:21.840><c> retirees</c><00:04:
- 22.400><c> and</c> But supporters believe retirees and But supporters believe retirees and grandparents
Summary:
The segment presented the results of the 2025 Minnesota House legislative opinion poll, which asked fairgoers about a range of policy issues tied to recent or possible future legislative action. Topics included school calendar flexibility before Labor Day, state funding for sports stadiums and arenas, undocumented immigrants’ access to state programs, unemployment benefits for hourly school workers in the summer, banning guns in the Capitol, budget-balancing options for a projected 2028-29 deficit, removing party labels from legislative ballots, limiting free school meals by income, free fishing licenses for residents age 65 and older, local control over cannabis businesses, a post-employment lobbying ban for legislators, and a higher income tax rate for the highest earners.
For several questions, the segment noted the underlying legislative context. It referenced the 2023 law making undocumented immigrants eligible for MinnesotaCare and the 2025 law ending adult eligibility at year’s end, the school meals program’s higher-than-expected costs, and a 2025 proposal to remove party designations from legislative ballots that did not receive a committee hearing. It also mentioned the projected nearly $6 billion budget shortfall for the 2028-29 biennium, the Xcel Energy Center renovation funding request, and the recent killings of House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shooting of Senator John Hoffman and his wife as part of the discussion about Capitol gun restrictions.
The poll itself was presented as a public opinion survey rather than a legislative vote, so no formal committee action or roll call occurred. The segment closed by thanking participants and saying the poll would return next year at the fair.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Select Committee on Pension Policy May 19th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Select Committee on Pension Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So if you're considering additional agenda items that require actuarial support, we'd be grateful if
- So there were four pieces of correspondence: two from members related to a Plan 1 COLA, in support of
- I want to figure out what the retiree groups are looking for there.
- And for the record, I'm Emmett Mills, with the Washington State School Retirees Association.
- to make sure we get a proposal that they support.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Select Committee on Pension Policy May 19th, 2026
Select Committee on Pension Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So if you're considering additional agenda items that require actuarial support, we'd be grateful if
- So there were four pieces of correspondence: two from members related to a Plan 1 COLA, in support of
- And I want to really kind of figure out what the retiree groups are looking for there.
- And for the record, Emmett Mills, the Washington State School Retirees Association.
- to make sure we get a proposal that they support.
Summary:
The Executive Committee approved the April minutes by roll call vote, with members present voting aye and the minutes adopted. The committee then received an Attorney General update on several pension-related cases. Counsel discussed the newly filed Dawson class action, which seeks to invalidate Gross Second Substitute House Bill 2034 on federal and state constitutional grounds; she said the pleadings were unclear, the committee’s involvement was uncertain, and the case would need monitoring. She also reported that the Dolan case appears concluded after the Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s ruling on constructive payment of attorney fees, and that the Fowler case remains pending after an oral ruling for plaintiffs on retroactive interest and possible disgorgement of state gains, with a written ruling still awaited.
The actuarial update said June would include the preliminary 2025 valuation results and contribution-rate discussion, along with commentary on the demographic experience study, and staff noted actuarial resources were limited for additional items until later in the summer or fall. The committee then discussed the interim work plan and correspondence, including letters supporting a Plan 1 COLA recommendation, retiree organization comments, and a request from Senator Robinson to study whether certain animal control technicians should be included in PERS. Members emphasized the need to keep working on an ad hoc COLA for Plan 1 retirees while also exploring a longer-term COLA mechanism, including possible budget proviso language to require COLA consideration each budget cycle.
Staff also explained changes to correspondence handling: materials will no longer be posted publicly on the website, but will still be available through public records requests and distributed securely to members by email or form submission. The committee agreed to add a June briefing on the PERS animal control technician issue and an introductory discussion of Plan 3, and to bring back COLA proposals in July for further executive committee review. The agenda was approved as amended, and the meeting adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- State supported school or state supported living center. Are they in your program? No, no, ma'am.
- Our state employees and retirees do participate in social. security.
- But have support services many of those do throughout the state of Texas and provide some critical support
- We work in coordination with those class railroads to support their efforts.
- Aviation supports, we support... for nearly 300 general aviation airports and then public transportation
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Special Session E May 12th, 2026
Florida Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Having waived close, all in support of the amendment say yea. All opposed say nay. Show the motion.
- All in support of the amendment say yea. All opposed say nay.
- If enrolled after July 1, 2011, the retiree must complete eight years, and that is the bill.
- To be eligible, the retiree must have a completed six years of service in the special class risk.
- If enrolled after July 1, 2011, the retiree must complete eight years, and that is the bill.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Pamela Tump, Maui Chambers, in support, and four individuals in support. support thank you Betty Lou
- </c> support and four individuals in support support and four individuals in support chair<00:52:11.920
- Makani MAA Group, in support. Ren Tanaka, NAAP Hawaii, in support. Thank you.
- Makani MAA Group, in support. Ren Tanaka, NAAP Hawaii, in support. Thank you.
- Argent Aeim Haw Apple Seed, in support. Damen Hawaii Yimi, in support.
Summary:
The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing and moved quickly through a long agenda, beginning with HB 606 on the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. DHHL and several community testifiers strongly supported the bill, describing it as a way to fulfill long-standing promises to Native Hawaiians, reduce the DHHL waitlist, keep families in Hawaii, and support housing production and the broader economy. Testifiers emphasized the cultural and economic importance of stable housing and noted the large number of people still waiting for DHHL homes.
The committee then heard HB 1086, also relating to DHHL, which would allow the department to use a $75 million appropriation from the dwelling unit revolving fund as collateral for loans. DHHL, HHFDC, and other supporters said the measure would help DHHL obtain better loan terms and preserve trust funds for other uses. Members asked detailed questions about how the collateral would work, whether other agencies use similar structures, and what would happen if the collateral were drawn upon; staff explained that the funds would be encumbered for the loan and that a similar model had been used for a HUD-backed project.
The committee also heard HB 739, which would create the COM homes program to fund counties to buy voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or buyers. Supporters said the program could help keep local workers in Hawaii by using existing housing stock and cited examples from places like Aspen and Vail. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to remove duration requirements to avoid right-to-travel concerns, and the Tax Foundation suggested clarifying the conveyance tax exemption so it also covers the instrument imposing the restriction. Members asked whether tax dollars would be used to buy homes, who would be eligible, and how enforcement would work; supporters said the program is voluntary and income-blind, with restrictions tied to living and working in the state. No votes were taken during the hearing.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jul 2nd, 2026
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
Transcript Highlights:
- We also have $25 million to support MassTech's robotics initiative.
- I respectfully ask your support in advancing the Mass Wins Act.
- I am supportive of it.
- And many retirees do not receive Social Security benefits.
- I respectfully urge this committee to support Section 106.
Summary:
The House Bonding Committee met to hear testimony on H. 5527, the Mass Wins Act, with Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley opening by describing the bill as a follow-on to Mass Leads. He said the proposal includes $305 million in bond authorizations, with $180 million for new programs and $125 million to expand existing ones, plus $140 million in deauthorizations of unused or redundant authorizations. He highlighted investments in applied AI and quantum, robotics, business expansion capital, defense innovation, global business attraction, ag tech and food science, downtowns, and the creative economy, and said the bill is intended to support geographic equity and small business growth across the Commonwealth.
Committee members questioned the administration on several policy sections, including the MassCEC climate-tech certification language, housing-related provisions tied to 40B compliance and site plan review, the removal of the LCSW exam, AI transparency and federal preemption concerns, and the effect of lower LLC filing fees. Paley generally said some contested sections were added by the Economic Development Committee rather than the administration, defended the MassCEC discretion language as necessary for climate certification, and said the administration would follow up on committee-added provisions. He also said the bill’s housing provisions were meant to help address the state’s need for more homes and that the deauthorizations were housekeeping measures that did not affect current capital plan projects.
Public testimony covered a wide range of topics. AARP and local advocates urged a statewide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs, arguing they are heavily used in scams, impose high fees, and drain money from seniors and local economies. Housing groups supported codifying site plan review and adding parking reform and YIGBY-style housing on faith-owned land. Building trades asked to include off-site fabrication in prevailing wage law. The Massachusetts Public Banking Campaign backed the bill and urged inclusion of a public bank concept. Several witnesses supported Section 106, the Transparency and Frontier AI Act, as a way to require safety plans, audits, incident reporting, and whistleblower protections for the largest AI companies, while an AI startup group argued the section would overregulate smaller firms and should be separated from the bond bill. No votes were taken during the hearing.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- We stand on our testimony support. Mr.
- Dean's reappoint strong support of Mr.
- </c> on our testimony support. on our testimony support.
- ERS stands in support. ERS in support. Thank you.
- This is all in support.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology met on March 6, 2026, and considered four gubernatorial nominations. For GM 690, Jesse Kola Dean was nominated for reappointment to the Hawaii Retirement Savings Board. Testimony from the Retirement Savings Board and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations strongly supported Dean, citing his original membership on the board and his role in advancing implementation of the retirement savings program. Dean described his background and said the program was moving into implementation after the board approved the Connecticut consortium model; in response to questions, he said the main challenges had been finding an executive director and adapting the program from an original opt-in structure to the opt-out consortium model. The committee voted to recommend advise and consent.
For GM 634, Darlene Blakey was nominated to the board of trustees of the Employees' Retirement System. ERS and several individuals submitted support. Blakey, an executive vice president and chief lending officer at First Hawaiian Bank, said her banking and finance background and personal experience with her mother’s retirement benefits motivated her service. She told senators she had attended ERS meetings and was focused on improving retirees’ access to information, education, and retirement planning, and said she would recuse herself from matters involving First Hawaiian Bank because of a potential conflict of interest. The committee again voted to advise and consent.
The committee then considered GM 627 and GM 726, both nominations of Gina Anu Novo to the Hawaii Workforce Development Council for different terms. Written testimony from numerous supporters was read into the record. Novo, a longtime First Hawaiian Bank executive and current vice chair, described her experience building audit, compliance, human resources, and technology functions, and said she wanted to help strengthen workforce pathways, career development, retention, and outreach to youth and workers who do not pursue college. Senators asked about her plans to connect workforce development with education and financial literacy; she emphasized career pathing, training, and adapting to changing skills needs, including the role of technology and AI. The committee voted to recommend advise and consent on both nominations, and the meeting adjourned after all four nominations were approved by the committee.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Executive Departments and Administration (01/08/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:56:48.319><c> the</c> agitant general, but I do support the agitant general, but I do support
- So we do support this legislation.
- So, we do support this for it.
- We support this legislation.
- </c> support this legislation. support this legislation.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Governmental Oversight and Accountability Jan 20th, 2026
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Transcript Highlights:
- Supporting this bill means supporting the people who are the first responders, the convoys, and the worst
- We have Jessica Hall, waving in support. We have Christina Torres waving in support.
- in support.
- Welcome, waving in support.
- Welcome, waving in support.
Summary:
The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first heard Senate Bill 774, which would extend workers’ compensation coverage for mental or nervous injuries, without a physical injury, to 911 public safety telecommunicators. The bill sponsor and multiple dispatchers, counselors, and association representatives testified in support, describing repeated exposure to traumatic calls, staffing shortages, and the need for mental health treatment and retention support. Senators praised dispatchers’ work and emphasized that they are first responders in practice. SB 774 was reported favorably by roll call vote, with one senator later recording an affirmative vote on the bill.
The committee then considered SPB 7028, a retirement bill setting Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2026, without changing the 3% employee contribution rate. It also allows certain elected officers to receive a DROP payout under specified conditions and provides an alternative cost-of-living adjustment for special risk retirees meeting service requirements. Firefighters, police, and sheriffs’ association representatives supported the measure as a recruitment and retention tool. The committee voted to submit SPB 7028 as a committee bill and reported it favorably.
Finally, the committee took up SPB 7024 and SPB 7026, both government records exemption bills. SPB 7024 repeals the current public records/public meeting exemption for cybersecurity information and consolidates agency-specific cybersecurity exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. SPB 7026 does the same for trade secret records held by agencies. Neither bill drew questions or testimony, and both were submitted as committee bills and reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Jun 10th, 2026
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm happy to support your bill today. Senator, would you like to close?
- , that cannot be supported by the traditional welfare tax exemption.
- Supported are modest.
- Any other witnesses wish to voice their support?
- They support, absolutely support, the intent of the bill and their local veterans.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Appropriations Jan 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- For these reasons, the Port of Vancouver supports House Bill 2179 and asks for your support.
- Our community supports us, and that makes it viable.
- Our schools can't function without support staff.
- I urge your support for this. Thank you. Thank you very much.
- Many of them are Medicare retirees.
Summary:
The House Appropriations Committee heard staff briefings and testimony on four bills. House Bill 2124, a Department of Retirement Systems request, would raise the minimum monthly pension benefit that can be paid as a lump sum from $50 to $250, with future inflation adjustments by the director; staff said it would cost about $11,000 in administrative changes and have no actuarial impact on the pension funds. House Bill 2125 would remove a biennial restriction on using pension fund interest earnings for certain administrative and compliance expenses that protect the funds; DRS said it would have no fiscal impact and would continue existing practice. Seth Miller of DRS supported both bills as efforts to reduce complexity and improve consistency across retirement systems.
House Bill 2179 would create a retroactive exemption from PERS membership for certain port district employees who are instead covered by federal railroad retirement or union-sponsored defined benefit plans. Staff said audits found a small number of affected employees, with a one-time administrative cost of about $18,000, and noted possible legal concerns because retroactive changes can implicate vested retirement rights. Testimony from the Washington Public Ports Association and the Port of Ponderay supported the bill as a narrow clarification needed to avoid dual coverage and large retroactive liabilities; the Port of Vancouver also supported it as a fix for building trades workers covered by union plans.
House Bill 2160 would change SEBB eligibility rules for school employees, creating a presumption of coverage on day one for returning employees who previously worked 630 hours in prior years, effectively shortening the lookback period and extending it across SEBB employers. Supporters, including substitute teachers, WEA, SEIU, and other school workers, said the bill would reduce disruptive gaps in coverage, help workers and families maintain continuous insurance, and improve recruitment and retention. Opponents, including school administrators, business officials, and school directors, argued it would be an unfunded mandate that could significantly increase district costs and administrative complexity, especially because districts would have to track hours and rebut presumptive eligibility. The Health Care Authority explained that eligibility is determined by local benefits administrators using worksheets and appeals, that the current two-year presumption was built from earlier benefit rules, and that the bill could increase costs and create issues for retirees who currently manage hours to stay below the 630-hour threshold. The committee took no votes and adjourned after public hearing.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- There is no reason not to support this bill.
- I'm looking forward to supporting it.
- All these support a better return on investment.
- Are there any other witnesses in support?
- And for that reason, I cannot support this bill today.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard two bills. AB 1054 by Assemblymember Gibson would create a Deferred Retirement Option Program for eligible CHP officers and CAL FIRE firefighters, allowing them to work up to five additional years while their retirement benefits accrue in an interest-bearing account. Supporters, including representatives of CHP and CAL FIRE, said the bill would help retain experienced public safety personnel, address staffing strain, and remain cost-neutral to the state. Members generally supported the measure, and the committee passed it 7-0 and referred it to Appropriations.
The committee then heard AB 1439 by Assemblymember Garcia, sponsored by the State Building and Construction Trades Council. The bill would require public pension and retirement systems to apply stronger labor standards when investing in California development projects, including prevailing wage, skilled-and-trained workforce, and labor neutrality provisions. Supporters argued that public pension investments should not back projects with wage theft, unsafe conditions, or poor labor practices, and that stronger standards improve project quality and returns. Opponents, including county retirement systems, builders, housing groups, and local government associations, warned the bill could interfere with fiduciary duties, increase costs, create litigation risk, and reduce housing and development activity.
Committee members raised concerns about the bill’s scope, definitions, and possible impacts on housing and pension stability, but several said they were willing to give the author a chance to continue working on amendments. The author committed to further revisions and said the bill was still in early stages. The committee approved AB 1439 5-0, with one member not voting, and sent it to Appropriations. The meeting ended with brief farewell remarks for a committee consultant who is leaving for the Senate.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Public Employment and Retirement
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Health Care Affordability, Select May 1st, 2026
Health Care Affordability, Select
Transcript Highlights:
- These payment mechanisms would support our ability to, I'll just use it. would support our ability to
- Yeah, so we cover, you know, state employees and retirees, as you said.
- So we have a retiree health fund and an active care fund. Health fund and active care fund.
- Retirees who aren't eligible for Medicare's medical and pharmacy.
- I hear from our current teachers and whatnot, and our retirees.