Video & Transcript : 'retirement plans' :
Page 38 of 500
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Education Committee Jun 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- No educators should have to plan their pregnancy around the academic calendar.
- When unused, it directly contributes to retirement benefits through CalSTRS.
- And so technically they can lose up to $100,000 in retirement benefits.
- They went to go check out their STRS retirement, and they found out at that time she had less retirement
- They're comprehensive school safety plans every year.
Summary:
The committee heard and acted on several education-related bills, beginning with AB 65 on paid pregnancy leave for public school employees. The bill drew strong support from teachers, school employees, unions, and education groups, who argued it would provide up to 14 weeks of paid leave, reduce financial penalties tied to sick leave use, and help recruit and retain educators. Some witnesses and members raised concerns about funding, district eligibility, and implementation, but the bill was advanced on a do-pass recommendation to the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, with one member not voting and the bill placed on call for absent members.
Members then heard AB 673 on an unaccompanied youth support grant program for homeless 16- and 17-year-olds, AB 1552 on reporting recommendations to strengthen civic engagement in higher education, AB 1572 on annual CIF review and qualification standards for sports officials, and AB 1586 on opioid overdose response training and naloxone access for school resource officers. AB 673 and AB 1552 received support from education, youth, and advocacy organizations; AB 673 also drew questions about overlap with existing homeless and foster-care-related programs, while supporters said the bill targets a vulnerable subpopulation that is often missed. AB 1552 and AB 1572 were broadly supported and advanced, and AB 1586 was backed by treatment providers, school nurses, and education groups as a practical student-safety measure; all were moved forward with do-pass recommendations and placed on call.
The committee also considered AB 1721, which would create a work group to review and streamline school safety plans, and AB 2060, which would establish a mentor teacher grant program and stipend to strengthen the teacher pipeline. Both bills were supported by administrators, educators, and school-related organizations, and both advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 2440, aimed at clarifying Proposition 28 arts and music education funding rules and allowing small districts to pool resources, also received broad support and moved to Appropriations. AB 1784, which would extend pregnancy-related protections to undergraduate students and prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions, passed to the Senate Judiciary Committee after support from higher education and women’s advocacy groups. Finally, AB 2660, which would codify the CalBridge STEM pathway program and related efforts to diversify the STEM workforce, was supported by higher education and workforce advocates and advanced to Appropriations after questions about the related EnLACE program and its funding sources.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Apr 8th, 2026
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- The average retirement for these folks is $38,000. It is not a lot of money.
- The average military retirement pay, as... California.
- I'm a 30-year Army veteran, retired.
- And as I move from semi-retirement into permanent retirement, I want you to know that I appreciate your
- And as I move from semi-retirement into permanent retirement, I want you to know that I appreciate your
Committee:
Senate Revenue and Taxation
Summary:
The committee heard several tax and revenue measures. SB 1277, by Senator Grove, proposed a California Cost of Living Tax Credit modeled on the 2022 middle-class tax refund to provide direct relief to low- and middle-income Californians facing high housing, gas, energy, and general living costs. Supporters said it would help working families, farmworkers, teachers, and others; opponents, including the California Tax Reform Association and the California Teachers Association, argued California already has a progressive tax system, that refundable credits are costly and can be difficult to administer, and that the bill would reduce General Fund revenues and Proposition 98 funding. The bill was held on call after extensive debate and no motion was made at that time.
The committee then heard SB 1287, which would create a targeted tax credit to encourage private investment in short-line railroad infrastructure. The author and rail industry witnesses said the credit would support safety, bridge and track upgrades, emissions reductions, freight efficiency, and rural and agricultural supply chains, while opponents argued a direct grant program would be preferable to a tax credit. The bill was accepted with committee amendments and placed on call after a motion to move it forward.
SB 1407 would exempt military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits from state income tax, with the author, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and veterans’ groups arguing it would help retain veterans in California, support second careers, and keep federal retirement dollars in the state. The California Teachers Association and California Tax Reform Association opposed it as another tax expenditure that would reduce General Fund revenue. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, with several members voting aye and others not voting, and the bill was placed on call.
The committee also heard SB 1349, which directs the Legislative Analyst’s Office to review major tax expenditures and evaluate their costs, beneficiaries, and effectiveness. Supporters, including CTA, AFSCME, cities, counties, and many teachers, said the state needs more accountability for roughly $94 billion in annual tax expenditures and their impact on schools and the budget. The bill was moved with committee amendments and placed on call. Additional measures discussed included SB 1078, authorizing Santa Cruz County to seek voter approval for a temporary local sales tax increase to fund health care and safety-net services; SB 1120, extending the California Competes Tax Credit through 2035 and making it refundable for certain strategic industries; and SB 1275, which would convert the state sales tax on vehicle purchases into a deductible vehicle license fee to reduce Californians’ federal tax burden. SB 1120 and SB 1275 both received support from business and industry witnesses, with no opposition testimony noted, and were moved on call or with a due pass as amended vote as the committee continued through the file.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- > published</c> private plan plan guidance was published private plan plan guidance was published in<
- </p> <p>In the case of a self-insured plan, uh, where an employer wants to use their own plan, uh, and
- </c> we're looking to pre-approve those plans we're looking to pre-approve those plans through<00:58:
- </c> possibilities of a templated uh plan possibilities of a templated uh plan that<00:58:33.280><c>
- </c><01:28:35.280><c> um</c> plan rather than the state plan um plan rather than the state plan um additionally
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- I retired in 2021, so I don't know. Okay.
- Retire because they wouldn't have been in the system. It depends when you retire, Senator.
- Now it can retire and go back.
- Retirement systems are closed systems.
- I am a retired paralegal, and I had to retire because of COVID.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary A
Summary:
The committee first approved the May 5 minutes and then heard House Bill 578, which would define sex in Louisiana law as biological sex, replace references to gender with sex in various statutes and forms, and direct the Law Institute to make conforming changes. Supporters from the governor’s office said the bill would bring clarity and consistency, while opponents argued it could create conflicts with existing law and weaken protections tied to gender identity. After debate, the committee reported HB 578 favorably.
Members then considered House Bill 1250, a measure aimed at aerospace-related litigation. The bill would allow a special motion to strike certain claims against aerospace flight entities when the claims are preempted by federal law. Senators raised concerns that the language was broad enough to affect airports, airlines, contractors, and even unrelated incidents, and the author said he was willing to work on narrowing amendments. The committee nevertheless reported HB 1250 favorably. House Bill 718, dealing with liability protections for private airstrips used for recreation, was amended to narrow its scope and then reported favorably, while House Bill 163, a narrower related airstrip bill, was voluntarily deferred so the committee could work from the other measure.
The committee also approved House Concurrent Resolution 61, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to review possible conflicts between the constitution and statutes on expropriation. House Bill 180, defining foreign adversaries and agents of foreign adversaries for a proposed constitutional amendment, and House Bill 192, a constitutional amendment barring foreign adversaries from expropriating land in Louisiana, were both reported favorably. House Bill 1008, which sets out academic freedom and whistleblower protections for higher education, was rejected on a roll-call vote after concerns about its scope and limits on university discipline. House Bill 638, a prompt-payment bill for contractors, was set aside while amendments were being located.
Finally, the committee took up House Bill 71, which would extend existing liability protections for justified use of force to properly trained armed security guards. The author and the Board of Private Security Examiners said security officers receive training and often face dangerous situations, but opponents argued the bill would give too much protection to personnel with far less training than law enforcement and could shield bad shootings. After debate, the committee voted to defer HB 71. The last measure discussed was House Bill 1082, which would change venue rules for lawsuits involving the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System so actions by the system would be filed where the employer is located; the author said the bill was meant to help small municipalities, and members indicated they were open to narrowing amendments.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- We just got rated as the worst place in the country to retire.
- We do have a master development plan and a community development plan that was guided by the residents
- It's what the law committed to pay us for the ...plans based on that.
- And by the way, that should be continuing on and planning for retirement because I would argue, Madam
- Always plan for decades up to retirement so you can have a wonderful era of golden years in your life
Committee:
Senate House Rules & Order Of Business
Summary:
The committee first heard HB 124, which would codify the Office of New Americans within the Workforce Solutions Department. The sponsor and Workforce Solutions officials said the office has already been operating on a grant and has become a key resource for businesses and immigrant workers, especially for workforce development, credential recognition, language access, and referrals. Supporters from immigrant advocacy, child care, conservation, and civic groups argued the office would help address labor shortages, improve integration, and strengthen economic growth. Several members questioned whether the office would serve people without legal status, what services would be provided, and whether it would create taxpayer costs; sponsors said eligibility would depend on specific programs, the office would mainly provide referrals and workforce support, and it is currently philanthropic grant-funded. The bill was ultimately passed on a 6-4 due pass vote.
The committee then considered SJR 6, a proposed constitutional amendment to change New Mexico’s pretrial detention standards. The sponsor argued the 2016 bail reform language has contributed to a “revolving door” for repeat offenders and that the current standard is too restrictive and inconsistently applied across judicial districts. Supporters from State Police said the resolution would give clearer direction and let voters revisit the issue. Opponents from the ACLU and the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association warned it would expand pretrial detention, weaken the requirement that the state prove no release conditions are adequate, and disproportionately affect poor people and people of color. After extended debate over public safety, judicial discretion, and whether the proposal should include a clearer standard, the committee approved the resolution on a 6-4 due pass vote.
The committee also passed SJR 7, a land swap between the state and the City of Santa Fe involving the DPS site and part of the Midtown campus. The sponsor, the Department of Public Safety, and the Santa Fe mayor said the exchange had been discussed for years, would allow the state to own the land under its DPS facilities, and would help the city advance its Midtown redevelopment plan, including housing and public amenities. Members asked about the parcels involved, whether both sides agreed, and whether any member had a financial interest; the sponsor said the swap was non-monetary and fully agreed to by both parties. The resolution passed without opposition.
Finally, the committee heard SM 31, which creates a workgroup with LFC, DFA, and PERA to study the loss of COLAs for PERA retirees and recommend solutions. Retiree advocates said the reduced COLA has significantly eroded pension value and that retirees relied on the statutory promise of a 2% COLA. Other speakers emphasized the need to protect long-term fund solvency while addressing retiree losses. The memorial passed unanimously by roll call. The meeting then recessed, with the chair noting the next day’s agenda would be posted later.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 090 Apr 14th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> concerning the improvement of retirement concerning the improvement of retirement readiness<00:27
- </c> meaningfully improves retirement meaningfully improves retirement outcomes.<00:28:18.800><c> I</
- ><c> for</c> that a secure retirement is good for that a secure retirement is good for every<00:28:31.360
- </c> need to know that their treatment plan need to know that their treatment plan cannot<00:48:17.040
- And so it's very plan and diagnosis.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 02/23/26
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- The reason they are retiring at run.
- </c> all these places where they're retiring all these places where they're retiring coal<00:39:43.280
- </c> I think where we are seeing the plans I think where we are seeing the plans coming<00:46:32.720>
- </c> announced generator retirements. announced generator retirements. uh<01:19:53.040><c> the</c><01
- . retirements. retirements.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- The age of retirement has never been a problem. If you need to retire, you're going to retire.
- I am a retired teacher, and I have, when you retire... ...money is I am a retired teacher, and I have
- , in the retirement deal.
- Just to explain what phased retirement is, it allows somebody to partially retire.
- Just to explain what phased retirement is, it allows somebody to partially retire.
Committee:
House Retirement
Summary:
The Retirement Committee met on March 26, 2026, with a quorum present. House Bill 24 was voluntarily deferred at the start of the meeting. The committee then heard House Bill 20, which would have allowed retired teachers to return to work under superintendent discretion while drawing retirement benefits. Representative Bagley argued the bill would help address teacher shortages by letting districts hire experienced certified teachers, while Representative Taylor raised broader concerns about how returning retirees are treated. After discussion, HB 20 was voluntarily deferred.
The committee next considered House Bill 25, a technical update to the Teachers’ Retirement System to conform with changes in the Internal Revenue Code, including benefit commencement and surviving spouse election provisions. Catherine Whitney of TRSL said the bill is routine compliance legislation reviewed periodically by the system’s tax attorney. An amendment was adopted, and HB 25 was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 23, a cost-of-living adjustment bill for LASERS retirees, was also amended to raise the benefit cap from $80,000 to $81,201 and then reported favorably as amended.
House Bill 42 proposed a phased retirement program for higher education employees in the Teachers’ Retirement System, allowing partial retirement and part-time work with partial benefits. Bacala said it was intended to help retain talent at universities and was based on prior task force recommendations; an amendment was adopted to set the participation framework for universities, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 32, a LASERS cleanup bill addressing disability retiree restoration, administrative errors, and benefit calculations, was described by LASERS as technical in nature and was reported favorably. House Bill 13, a State Police Retirement System reamortization bill, was amended to adjust timing and technical provisions and then reported favorably as amended.
Finally, the committee took up House Bill 41 on the Firefighters’ Retirement System board makeup. A new amendment package replaced earlier amendments and would eliminate term limits, expand elected active-member seats from two to five, remove chief association appointments, and require vacancies to be filled by election. Supporters described it as a compromise intended to better represent the system’s active members, while the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association objected that chiefs had been left out of the negotiations and said they provide important budget and governance expertise. Despite the opposition, the committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 41 favorably as amended.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee Apr 22nd, 2025
Aging and Long-Term Care
Transcript Highlights:
- Many continue to work long past the retirement age, whether in rural.
- However, due to my immigration status, I do not qualify for the benefits of retirement.
- We deserve to have access to retirement programs and to be able to grow old with dignity.
- Like me, thousands of people do not have any retirement benefits, nor do the different obstacles that
- We deserve to have access to retirement programs and be able to age with dignity.
Committee:
House Aging and Long-Term Care
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriation and Revenue. (3-18-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- Kentucky Teachers Retirement System.
- </c> audit of the Teachers Retirement System. audit of the Teachers Retirement System.
- </c> that permitted district facility plan that permitted district facility plan modifications. modifications
- plan year 27<00:18:31.880><c> and</c><00:18:32.000><c> plan</c><00:18:32.240><c> year</c><00:18:32.320
- for plan years 2023 through 2028.
Summary:
The Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, adopting a committee substitute and reporting it favorably. The chair said the Senate version fully funds defined calculations, provides 2% raises in each fiscal year for legislative employees, removes a paragraph on operating expense reductions, and includes $1 million in the first year for a judicial branch salary study. House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, was then amended and reported favorably; changes included 2% annual raises for judicial employees, revised operating expense language, $1 million each year for county current services, retention of Boyle County fit-up language, reporting requirements for smaller capital projects, full funding for nine judges added in 2022, and removal of furlough prohibitions and certain budget implementation language. Both bills passed the committee unanimously with favorable expressions to the floor.
The committee then considered House Bill 500, the executive branch budget, adopting a committee substitute before hearing a lengthy summary of major spending and policy changes. The chair described statewide 2% annual employee raises, agency base reductions with many exemptions, increased school safety and 911 funding, veterans and military funding, local government and severance-related changes, attorney general and auditor funding, pension and retirement system support, education funding changes including SEEK, postsecondary and scholarship provisions, public safety and corrections funding, and multiple capital projects. The chair also highlighted Medicaid-related provisions, including added waiver slots, increased state-directed payments, a 2.5% reduction in managed care vendor payments for plan years 2027 and 2028 with savings redirected to fee-for-service rates, and additional funding for behavioral health and public health programs. The bill was reported favorably after members explained their votes, with several noting they had only recently received the full 228-page bill and wanted more time for detailed review.
Finally, the committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 900, an appropriation measure for government agencies, and reported it favorably. The chair said the bill remains a work in progress and that one-time funding requests from across the Commonwealth and across party lines would continue to be addressed as the process moves forward. All measures considered during the meeting passed the committee with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Dec 17th, 2025 at 01:11 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- These plans also vary in their time frames.
- Next, on page seven, a statute requires five-year facility master plans that require long-term planning
- But in practice, the facility master plan is often siloed, and it usually doesn't inform other planning
- Our coaches for the educator programs, we intentionally hire retired teachers and retired educators because
- My middle child has a 504 plan.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. (1-29-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> on more generation than you're retiring on more generation than you're retiring just<00:10:05.760
- So let's say that a rate is approved for this potential retirement because this plan is going to be retired
- So let's say that a rate is approved for this potential retirement because this plan is going to be retired
- So let's say that a rate is approved for this potential retirement because this plan is going to be retired
- doesn't even get retired at the end of doesn't even get retired at the end of the<00:13:45.600><c> day
Committee:
House Natural Resources & Energy
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government. (2-4-26)
State & Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- employee can make a special needs beneficiary, uh, create a trust to, on their death, for retirement
- </c><00:21:23.120><c> towards</c> to to designate my retirement towards to to designate my retirement
- plan, the trust could then be designated as the beneficiary in exchange.
- plan, the trust could then be designated as the beneficiary in exchange.
- </c><00:23:56.559><c> plan,</c> beneficiary of the retirement plan, beneficiary of the retirement plan
Committee:
Senate State & Local Government
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- On behalf of the California State Teachers' Retirement System, we are co-sponsors of the bill, and I'm
- On behalf of the California State Teachers Retirement System, we are co-sponsors of the bill and I'm
- Planning for child care is one piece of a complicated puzzle, and we ask for your support. Great.
- information and options they need to plan for their future.
- AB 2417 merely ensures the option of Social Security as a retirement benefit is provided to community
Committee:
House Appropriations
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 66 Jul 8th, 2026
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Committee on Rules reports that the resolution concerning Timothy Clancy on the occasion of his retirement
- Congratulations on your retirement. The entire membership... Congratulations on your retirement.
- We include site plan review in this bill, to codify and establish site plan review for our communities
- And importantly, it introduces site plan review and land use board training.
- With 350 different versions, site plan review today is not predictable, efficient, or universal.
Summary:
The House adopted a resolution congratulating Fire Chief Timothy Clancy on his retirement from the Whitman Fire Department after suspending the rules. It also concurred with a Senate petition authorizing MassDOT to take easements over certain land in Woburn and Burlington, and then gave final passage to several local bills, including measures on culverts and dams, alcohol licenses in Milford, Salem, and Bridgewater, and firefighter civil service eligibility in Arlington.
The chamber then took up several bills on second reading and third reading, including a Norton land parcel bill, a Watertown property tax classification bill for fiscal year 2027 and subsequent years, and a transportation bond bill. In each case, the House suspended Rule 7A, adopted the Ways and Means amendments, and ordered the bills to a third reading or passed them to be engrossed. The transportation bond bill was substituted for a broader bonds bill and advanced as amended.
The main debate centered on House 5562, the economic development bond bill. Representative Viola described it as a $425.1 million package supporting applied AI and quantum, defense, robotics, ag tech, downtown revitalization, housing, higher education bridge funding, and business climate changes such as lower LLC fees, a CPA licensing pathway, nurse licensing changes, film tax credit adjustments, internship incentives, and food truck inspection reforms. Representative Haggerty and Representative Kazner spoke in support, emphasizing housing production, site plan review, land use board training, commercial conversion, faith-based housing, and local control. The House adopted Consolidated Amendment A by roll call 142-5, with a second consolidated amendment then made available; the bill remained under consideration at the end of the transcript.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- I've stayed in contact with the staff at the State Personnel Office since I... retired.
- You retired in 2023 from the state. Yes, I retired.
- And I can hope like all the members here that I can retire as Well as a state employee.
- And to be able to spend my retirement time serving those boards is a thrill.
- I represent Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
Committees:
Senate Senate Rules , Senate House Rules & Order Of Business
Keywords:
land grant, Las Vegas, governance, self-governance, judicial management, forced sterilization, coerced sterilization, Indigenous women, Native American women, women of color, reproductive justice, reproductive sovereignty, truth and reconciliation commission, memorial, trauma-informed care, reparative justice, human rights, bodily autonomy, Indian Health Service, Indian affairs
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- official and who attains a normal retirement date to retire at any time without resigning from their
- who attains a normal retirement date and elects to retire without terminating employment, in which the
- One of them being that they have to have reached their normal retirement date.
- In fact, my first lobbying job was with the Arizona State Retirement System.
- This is a... ...or county planning, permitting, or zoning authority.
Committee:
Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee approved the March 16, 2026 minutes and then heard testimony on several bills, with the chair noting that votes would be taken in batches because members were coming and going. HB 2939 would increase the rural qualified facilities tax credit from $20,000 to $25,000 per job for certain projects with initial investment under $2 billion; Lucid Motors supported it as a rural economic development tool, while Senator Epstein questioned the fiscal note and whether the higher credit would actually attract new investment. HB 2950 would authorize tourism improvement areas funded by voluntary lodging assessments to support marketing and tourism promotion; the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and Visit Phoenix backed it as a competitive tool for rural and urban destinations, and committee members focused on whether participation was truly voluntary and how the assessments would be administered.
HB 2780 made technical conforming changes to Arizona’s property tax lien foreclosure and excess proceeds sale process, building on a prior law that created a mechanism for delinquent property owners to recover equity; the sponsor and a longtime constituent said the changes would fix timing and credit-bid language so qualified entity sales could work in practice. HB 2502 would let certain elected officials in ASRS retire at normal retirement age without resigning their office, with the employer paying the alternate contribution rate; ASRS said it was neutral, and the sponsor argued the bill would treat elected officials more like other ASRS members. The committee then adopted do-pass recommendations for HB 2502, HB 2780, HB 2950, and HB 2939, with each passing on split votes.
The committee also adopted a striker to HB 2140, allowing the State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of state trust and treasury monies in physical gold or silver bullion held in secure U.S. depositories. The sponsor and the Sound Money Defense League argued it would diversify reserves and hedge against market disruption, while opponents said gold is volatile, costly to store, and not something taxpayers need the state to buy. HB 2140 then passed as amended on a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2398, as amended, which requires commercial liability insurance for watercraft rentals and peer-to-peer boat sharing programs, with supporters saying it addresses uninsured rental boats and law enforcement concerns; the bill passed as amended on a 6-1 vote. The committee also heard HB 2999, a major housing-finance bill creating state affordability infrastructure districts to finance public infrastructure through bonds and assessments; proponents said it would lower housing costs by spreading infrastructure costs over time, while contractors and some senators raised concerns about payment risk, impact-fee treatment, and whether savings would reach homebuyers. After adopting a striker and hearing extensive questions, HB 2999 passed as amended on a 6-1 vote.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 22nd, 2026
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Our plan now needs to address our retirement years and our end-of-life planning, but we're unable to
- , you know, move on with our lives, go off to college, later downsize, and plan for retirement.
- And now, despite all of my parents' hard work, their retirement plans and our college funds are diminished
- I had, you know, equity in the house and I'm ready, and this was the retirement plan all along, and now
- I had, you know, equity in the house and I'm ready, and this was the retirement plan all along, and now
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Retirement and Government Resources Apr 14th, 2026
Retirement and Government Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- The Senate Committee on Retirement and Insurance will come to order.
- Of Trustees of the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma.
- Marla Tharp for your consideration as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Teachers' Retirement
- Both these suggestions came from the Director of the Teacher Retirement System." Thank you, Mr.
- Both these suggestions came from the Director of the Teacher Retirement System.
Committee:
Senate Retirement and Government Resources
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Retirement and Insurance met and first passed House Bill 3057, which removes obsolete statutorily required reports identified in a Loft review to streamline agency reporting requirements. Senator Kirt asked whether any agency functions were being eliminated, and Senator Rader said some reporting-related functions would no longer be required, citing the organized retail crime task force final report as an example. The bill passed 7-0.
The committee then unanimously confirmed Marla Tharp to another four-year term on the Board of Trustees of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma, with members discussing her service, the system’s unfunded liability, and her long career in school administration. After that, House Bill 3279 passed 9-0. That measure raises the conflict-of-interest certification threshold to contracts of $25,000 or more, bars involved officers or employees from taking jobs with the winning contractor for one year, and clarifies that another person may sign for a director. Senators asked how broadly the restriction applies and whether the change addressed existing loopholes.
House Bill 4428 also passed, 7-2, after debate and amendment. The bill directs pension boards and proxy advisors to focus on pecuniary factors in investment and proxy voting decisions, while limiting reliance on non-pecuniary considerations unless they affect financial risk or return. Amendments added language requiring entities to be headquartered and operate in the United States and aligned the bill’s investment-purpose language with existing statute. Senator Kirt opposed the measure, arguing it could unduly limit long-term considerations and proxy voting.
Finally, House Bill 3420 passed 8-0. Described as part of a bipartisan effort informed by the state auditor and Loft, it makes several changes to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, including limiting pilot procurement testing to one year, removing flex benefit plan acquisitions from certain bidding exemptions, clarifying that professional services need not be bid, and posting sole-source and sole-brand reports on the OMES website instead of sending them to legislative leadership. Senators questioned several deletions and additions, and the author said the bill was intended to clean up procurement rules and reduce opportunities for waste or abuse.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Industry, Business and Labor Apr 8th, 2025 at 02:45 pm
Industry, Business and Labor
Transcript Highlights:
- So what's the plan?
- So from a plan perspective, I mean from a long-term plan perspective, I mean, from a long-term plan perspective
- Representative Johnson, first of all, on the retirement plan, that was for new employees.
- the plan design?
- You're jumping from the basic plan to the high deductible plan.
Bills:
SB2160
Committee:
House Industry, Business and Labor
Summary:
The committee resumed work on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the Public Employees Retirement System health plan from grandfathered to non-grandfathered status under the Affordable Care Act. PERS officials Rebecca Frickie and Derek Holbein explained that the bill would allow more flexibility in plan design, including higher deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximums, while also adding enhanced preventive benefits. They clarified that ACA “essential health benefits” apply to individual and small-group markets, not to PERS as a large employer, and that the bill’s projected cost increases were based on actuarial estimates and prior bid scenarios from Sanford and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Members debated whether the bill would actually save money or simply shift costs to employees. Supporters argued that non-grandfathered status would create more levers to manage medical inflation and could produce net premium savings through plan redesign, citing prior bid comparisons showing potential reductions of 1% to 8% depending on the option. Opponents, including Representative Schauer and North Dakota United president Nick Archelette, questioned how the state would pay for the estimated $25 million to $30 million in added benefits and warned that employees could face higher out-of-pocket costs amid already strained household budgets. Frickie said the legislature would control funding decisions and that current law requiring the state to pay full family premiums could be changed only by statute.
The committee also discussed reserve funding, with members noting that a $4.3 million reserve draw in the bill was intended to cover the final months of the biennium and could be modified. After testimony and discussion, Vice Chair Johnson moved a do-pass recommendation and referral to Appropriations. The motion passed 10-3-1, with Representatives Ostlie, Schatz, and Schauer voting no. Representative Gump agreed to carry the bill.