Transcript Highlights:

• It simply ensures retirees are not financially devastated by their service-related illnesses.
• The legislature has neglected to support state retirees for the past two decades.
• only 25% of retirees, specifically those who have been retired for more than 20 years.
• This amounted to less than a $50 increase per month for most eligible retirees.
• It would have provided a very modest 13th check to state retirees.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . retirees. retirees.
• > financial It protects retirees from financial It protects retirees from financial experimentation
• With that, I yield back to the gentleman. that retiree, that person who is that retiree, that person
• place for the best benefit of retirees. place for the best benefit of retirees.
• caps that punished deli retirees alone. caps that punished deli retirees alone.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The OPEB, or retiree medical valuations, we now produce those, and OSA also initiated...
• The remaining 1,200 are your primary annuitant retirees. You're welcome.
• This particular retiree's circumstances were impacted by this, and so the retiree has said they would
• And according to this retiree, because of that reduction in their spouse's benefit, the retiree chose
• elimination provision, the retiree now has their state pension and Social Security, and their spouse

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy approved the June minutes by roll call vote, with 13 yes votes and six excused members. The committee then received an annual update from the Office of the State Actuary, which marked its 50th anniversary and reviewed its history, expanded duties, staffing, cost-effectiveness, and current workload. The presentation emphasized the office’s role as an independent, in-house actuarial agency supporting Washington’s pension systems, boards, and committees, and noted some added work this year related to volunteer firefighters, LEOFF 2 studies, and accessibility requirements. The committee also heard its annual LEOFF 2 Board update. The board described its structure and ongoing work on several policy studies, including the DNR firefighter study, standby pay as earnable compensation, possible exemption of police chiefs from LEOFF 2 membership, preservation of public safety exposure records, 457 plans and additional annuity purchases, and implementation of tribal compacts allowing tribal law enforcement to join LEOFF 2. Members discussed the importance of coordination between the board and the select committee. The Pension Funding Council staff then reported that the council adopted the state actuary’s calculated contribution rates for the 2027-29 biennium, and that for most systems the adopted rates are lower than the prior biennium. Staff also briefed the committee on a possible PERS and TRS Plan 1 ad hoc COLA, explaining the history of Plan 1 benefits, prior one-time COLAs, the current funding approach, and possible next steps for the committee. Another briefing addressed a request related to Washington State Patrol survivor medical coverage, focusing on duty-related death benefits, Medicare, and the recent LEOFF 2 legislation that reimbursed certain premiums for survivors; members noted the issue would likely need actuarial analysis before any recommendation. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on survivor benefit election changes requested by retirees affected by the repeal of the federal windfall elimination provision, with staff explaining current survivor option rules and IRS qualification concerns. During public comment, Rebecca Souders-Palm testified about survivor benefits for families of officers killed in the line of duty and asked the committee to examine why earlier surviving spouses were treated differently after remarriage. The meeting adjourned after public input, and the executive committee was scheduled to meet later that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• From the active members or from retirees? Porter: Retirees?
• Ray Heimel: Retiree issues.
• As a recent retiree, I'm doing great.
• I am a state retiree.
• The ERS retirees' health insurance program...

Transcript Highlights:

• It hasn't been so great for our retirees.
• <00:52:22.200> that on the wait period for our retirees that on the wait period for our retirees
• <00:52:31.560> need<00:52:31.800> your Our retirees and my members need your Our retirees
• recognition that public safety retirees recognition that public safety retirees are<00:57:58.280
• > and<00:58:08.640> disabled For both regular retirees and disabled For both regular retirees

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the payback and the investment that we're making in our military retirees.
• The average age of a military retiree is 41. Many of these retirees will come and start businesses.
• Out of those, I'm not sure what The number is for the retirees.
• Madam Chair, is that six and a half Just for the retirees, the impact on just for the retirees, or is
• This would be just for the retirees.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the they have to pay the retirees.
• <00:16:51.040> is 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.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I was wondering whether or not you considered including other retirees besides teachers in that.
• That retirees should be grandfathered in.
• For retirees. You know, that's what we shouldn't be saying, giving concessions.
• Taylor, trying to save the retirees money. His will go up the same as everybody else's.
• Hey, hey, thank you, Rep Taylor, trying to save the retirees of money.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...tried to determine where we can do better as far as providing benefits for retirees and recruiting
• It only impacts TRS retirees who are returning to work.
• So one of the pieces of Senator Price's bill is to narrow the applicability of retirees who come back
• by corporate contract, which in a legal sense... ...of retirees who come back by corporate contract,
• Retirees would understand it. Employers would understand it. This would add to the complexity.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement met on May 5 with four members present. HB 41 was deferred until the following week, and the committee approved the April 20, 2026 minutes. The committee then took up several retirement-system bills, many of them negotiated measures involving municipal police, firefighters, teachers, district attorneys, and judges. HB 45, by Rep. Bacallat, was amended and reported favorably. It makes changes to the Municipal Police Employees Retirement System, including retention bonuses, recognition of out-of-state police service, benefits for three officers killed in the line of duty before full enrollment, a DROP fix, and more competitive accrual rates. Testimony from the Louisiana Municipal Association, MEPERS, police representatives, and Mayor Helena Marino was strongly supportive, emphasizing that the bill resolves longstanding disputes and litigation. HB 1237, also by Rep. Bacallat, was reported favorably after testimony that it eliminates partial dissolution penalties for municipal police and adjusts related firefighter provisions; witnesses said it was a negotiated fix supported by municipal and fire stakeholders. HB 42, concerning phased retirement in the Teacher Retirement System, was reported favorably as a permissive framework allowing universities to offer phased retirement options. HB 17, by the District Attorneys’ Retirement System director, was reported favorably to add the Louisiana District Attorneys Association to the definition of employer and require annual reporting on the rehire statute. HB 21, a cleanup bill for the Municipal Employees Retirement System, was also reported favorably. HB 1134, creating a backdrop retirement option for certain judges whose positions are abolished, was amended and reported favorably after LASERS raised questions about early retirement eligibility and the need to bar future judicial candidacy. HB 24, by Rep. Owen, drew the most discussion. It would allow retired or certified teachers to return to work through contracts with school systems, with a three-year sunset. The sponsor argued it would help keep qualified teachers in classrooms and avoid midyear departures, while TRSL, the Louisiana School Board Association, and committee members raised concerns about fiscal impact, contractor status, workers’ compensation, leave rules, and overlap with a separate bill being worked on by the chairman. After an amendment clarifying the independent-contractor definition was adopted, the committee chose to hold the bill in committee for further work rather than advance it immediately. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Between 2010 and 2022, California lost over 24,000 military retirees as a retention challenge, and as
• As of January 31, 2023, about 127,000 military retirees in California received total monthly payments
• But with second careers, a retiree household can contribute $50,000 or maybe even $100,000 in taxable
• But today, like many retirees, military retirees, I'm facing a difficult decision: Can I afford to stay
• Military retirees bring leadership, they bring technical expertise, and they bring workforce readiness

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I had one last year on an increase for retirees of the public school retirement system.
• And after understanding a little more about it, I just wanted to do something to get our retirees who
• We, I think, there are 3,400 PSRS retirees that are COLA capped, 800 PEERS retirees that are COLA capped
• We, I think, there are 3,400 PSRS retirees that are COLA capped, 800 PEERS retirees that are COLA capped
• We, I think there is 3,400 PSRS retirees that are COLA capped, 800 peers retirees that are COLA capped

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Pensions met without a quorum at first, so it began hearing bills before voting. Representative Haley presented House Bill 295, which would allow PSRS retirees who have reached the current 80% COLA cap to receive a non-cumulative 2% COLA in years when the system’s investment returns and CPI conditions are strong enough. Haley and MRTA said the bill was intended as a limited benefit for older retirees and would only apply in strong financial years. Committee members questioned whether it could affect system stability, how many retirees would qualify, and whether Social Security or spousal benefits would reduce the need for the change. PSRS/PEERS counsel testified that about 3,400 PSRS and 800 PEERS retirees are currently COLA-capped, that the bill would cost about $32 million for PSRS and under $1 million for PEERS, and that it would function like a one-time “13th paycheck” rather than a permanent increase. No vote was taken on this bill. The committee then moved into executive session and approved a committee substitute for House Bills 2884 and 1655 by a 12-0 vote. The substitute combined language affecting the St. Louis police retirement system board appointments, clarified that retirement systems may still provide neutral informational materials about ballot measures, and added language from House Bill 3208 adjusting quorum and voting rules for the public school retirement system of the city of St. Louis. The committee also approved a substitute for House Bills 1762 and 2059 by an 8-4 vote. That substitute increased the income tax deduction for private retirement income from $6,000 to $12,000 and raised the income threshold from $32,000 to $64,000, with supporters arguing it would create parity with the earlier public pension tax break and opponents citing the fiscal impact during a tight budget year. After returning to hearings, Representative Bromley presented House Bill 2144, which would increase the PSRS death benefit from $5,000 to $10,000. He said the current amount is outdated and often insufficient for funeral costs. MRTA supported the concept but urged caution about the system’s solvency and noted that PEERS has no death benefit. PSRS counsel said the bill would apply to vested members, would cost about $137.8 million actuarially, and would reduce the trust fund by about 0.19%; EMPERS’ executive director confirmed that system also uses third-party death-notification vendors and has a $5,000 death benefit. Finally, Representative Mayhew presented House Bill 2205, which would exempt all public and private retirement income from Missouri income tax. He described it as a simple tax relief measure similar to laws in Iowa and Illinois. There was little discussion, and the hearing on HB 2205 ended without testimony in opposition or further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• How can we give retirees options? And then also control the cost.
• How can we give retirees options? And then also control the cost.
• So if you're a retiree, you know the rules of the game. You know, here are my options.
• Our retirees really depend on that.
• But how many retirees are coming back now? Do you know that?

Summary: The Retirement Committee heard several retirement-related bills and deferred two measures at the start: HB 26 and HB 993 were voluntarily deferred by the author. HB 31, by Rep. Eccles, would allow certain small municipalities to terminate participation in the municipal police employees’ retirement system and create a lower-cost “Plan C” option for small towns like Stirlington. After discussion about population and officer-count limits, the committee adopted amendments, heard concerns from the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System about remaining issues, and reported HB 31 as amended favorably. The committee also advanced HB 1134, which creates a backdrop-style retirement option for judges whose positions are abolished, and HB 24, which would allow retired teachers to return to work as one-year contract teachers without the current retirement contribution structure. TRSL testified that return-to-work policy is complex and that a broader Senate study-group proposal is also moving, but the committee reported HB 1134 and HB 24 favorably. HB 21, a technical correction to the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System law, was amended to remove a sunset problem that would be fixed in another bill and was reported favorably as amended. Later, the committee reported HB 1017 favorably, which limits former spouses’ claims to post-divorce earnable compensation in the Firefighters’ Retirement System, with testimony that the bill would reduce litigation over promotions and raises after divorce. HB 43, which would let certain LASERS members retire after 35 years of service at any age, drew testimony from LASERS about its cost and workforce effects but received no motion and was voluntarily deferred. HB 30 was also voluntarily deferred because its substance would be moved into another bill. The committee then took up two major municipal police bills. HB 45, after extensive negotiations among the author, the Louisiana Municipal Association, EMPERS, and the City of New Orleans, was substantially rewritten by amendment to address retention pay, out-of-state service credit purchases, survivor benefits for certain officers killed in the line of duty, COLA funding, and a reduction in the non-hazardous accrual rate. The committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 45 as amended favorably. HB 49, a related bill on municipal police and firefighter retirement issues, was also replaced by a substitute that changed opt-out procedures, revised partial dissolution rules, and preserved full dissolution liability; after testimony that the changes would save New Orleans and other cities significant money, the committee adopted the substitute and reported HB 49 as substituted favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:53.200> what active members or how many retirees what active members or how many retirees
• retirement plans for all of our retirees retirement plans for all of our retirees except<00:20:43.480
• <00:25:22.440> of postretirement benefits for retirees of postretirement benefits for retirees
• One priority is to better protect retirees from inflation.
• <01:14:34.440> have we have found that our retirees have we have found that our retirees have

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I was wondering whether or not you considered including other retirees besides teachers in that.
• That retirees should be grandfathered in.
• For retirees, you know, that's what we shouldn't be saying, giving concessions.
• Taylor, trying to save the retirees money. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Hey, hey, thank you, Rep Taylor, trying to save the retirees of money.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um this um for our retirees as intended.
• Um it doesn't have of these retirees.
• Um so I think that um we'll retirees.
• <00:45:13.760> from prohibited a reemployed retiree from prohibited a reemployed retiree from
• "Paid on reemployed hire retirees?"

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:17 Approval of Minutes: 00:02:09 Legislative Proposals: HB 213: 00:02:13 HB 516: 00:25:00 HB 589: 00:39:30 Kentucky Public Pension Authority: 00:44:52 Adjournment: 01:14:07, 958, all

Summary: The Public Pension Oversight Board met on February 13 and approved the minutes after establishing a quorum. The committee then took up three pension-related bills, beginning with Rep. Callaway’s proposal to allow certain retired police officers with 15 to 19 years of service to be rehired by local law enforcement agencies. Callaway and Brandon Lincoln of the FOP said the bill is intended to help recruitment and retention, especially for departments facing staffing shortages, and emphasized that it would be optional and would not allow double-dipping. Committee members raised concerns that lowering the service threshold from 20 to 15 years could create an unfunded liability and weaken the pension system, and several members said they did not yet fully understand how the pension and insurance provisions would work. The sponsor said she was open to working on the bill, and the chair noted the committee would continue to examine it with help from KPA staff. The second bill, presented by Rep. Lewis with Brandon Lincoln and Jeff Taylor, addressed probationary employees in CS agencies, including firefighters and police officers. The bill would let certain former probationary employees purchase service credit for time spent in probation, and would extend line-of-duty death and disability protections to employees who are injured or killed during probationary service. Testimony said the measure is optional for employers, could be used as a recruitment tool, and would allow employees within six months of the probationary period to buy back the time themselves if they choose. Members generally supported the concept, noted a negligible fiscal note, and discussed whether current employees could buy back older probationary periods; the sponsor said the bill did not appear to allow that, though he was open to further discussion. Throughout both bills, members focused on whether the proposals would create new pension costs or liabilities and how they would interact with existing retirement tiers and contribution rules. Several members asked for clarification on whether rehired workers would contribute to the pension system, whether employers would pay normal cost or any contribution at all, and whether the bills would affect future retirement benefits. The sponsors and witnesses repeatedly said the measures were limited, optional, and intended to address staffing and fairness issues without changing the core retirement system, but the committee did not take final action on the bills during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• How can we give retirees options? And then also control the cost.
• Our retirees really depend on that.
• Our retirees really depend on that.
• Our retirees really depend on that.
• But how many retirees are coming back now? Do you know that?

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:04.159> who flow positive for every retiree who flow positive for every retiree who
• you know 99% of retirees you know 99% of retirees would<00:31:13.679> take<00:31:14.000><
• Plus, as a retiree, if you're drawing, let's say, 50% of your salary, the state of Mississippi does not
• <00:34:30.079> Plus,<00:34:30.480> as<00:34:30.720> a<00:34:30.960> retiree
• Plus, as a retiree, you factor is there.

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 2 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So between 2010 and 2022, California lost over 24,000 military retirees.
• Those second careers through second careers, a retireeers, a retireeer household can control. opportunities
• Those second careers through second careers, a retireeers, a retireeer household can control.
• retiree population has actually increased by 17%.
• I'm a 26-year military retiree.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our retirees are probably going to be about 49,000. So we didn't anticipate any.
• Regarding our retirees, what we are adding to the retiree rolls, we hit a new high every single month
• , so that retiree growth does not stop.
• The rest are the municipalities and retirees, and we've got 31 different plans.
• Tens of millions of dollars every month to their current retirees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also a health insurance fund for retirees. Thank you. Members, any questions? Mr.
• Gillette, it sounds reasonable as an ASRS retiree.
• Chair, just a question: this would apply to all retirees, yeah, not just law enforcement, correct?
• Gillette, it sounds reasonable as an ASRS retiree.
• I mean, this benefits all retirees, just not DPS employees, for all retirees, as the other representative

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard HB 2842, a deed-fraud prevention bill that would create an early alert system for property owners when escrow is opened on their property. The sponsor and several witnesses, including a victim, an Attorney General investigator, and the Department of Real Estate commissioner, described widespread deed fraud and said the bill would provide proactive notice before a fraudulent transfer is completed. The committee adopted the Blackman amendment shifting the reporting entity from DIFI to the State Real Estate Department, then passed the bill with a due pass recommendation by a 7-0 vote. Members then considered HB 2667, which would require recipients of state first-time homebuyer or down payment assistance programs to be Arizona residents for two years and to occupy the home as a primary residence for two years, while barring out-of-state investors from using the homes as rentals. The sponsor said the bill was intended to help younger Arizonans and keep assistance focused on residents invested in the state. Opponents and other members raised concerns that the bill could conflict with existing federal and lender requirements and could reduce participation in local down payment programs; after discussion, the committee passed the bill 4-3. HB 2020 was heard next and would reduce certain school-disruption offenses to a class 1 misdemeanor for minors and narrow the definition of interference with an educational institution. The sponsor and a parent described a case in which a student was charged too harshly after a school altercation, while a public commenter urged case-by-case discretion and warned against saddling children with felonies. The committee passed the bill 4-3. The committee also advanced HB 2793, which streamlines annexation procedures for single-owner annexations and updates notice rules, including electronic newspaper publication. After adopting two amendments, members passed it 4-3. HB 2327, which allows eligible individuals to restrict public access to certain identifying information held by county recorders, assessors, and treasurers, passed unanimously. HB 2858, creating a 1% Arizona-bidder preference in certain state procurement ties, also passed unanimously after amendment. HB 2660, which adds procedural protections and oversight for health profession licensing board actions, passed 4-2 after testimony from the sponsor and a physician who said board actions had chilled speech and due process. Finally, HB 2063, appropriating $1.5 million for the Independent Correctional Oversight Office, passed unanimously after strong support from oversight advocates and former corrections stakeholders, and HB 2681, extending civil-service appeal deadlines from 10 calendar days to 10 business days, also passed unanimously. The committee then discussed HB 2812, which would raise the sick-leave payout cap for retiring state employees from $30,000 to $57,000; witnesses supported the increase and members began discussing a possible amendment to allow retirees to transfer the payout into a health savings arrangement, but the transcript ends before final action on that bill.