Legislative Activity Related to ERS
Throughout the 88th regular Texas Legislature, ERS monitored legislation related to our benefits and operations. View a brief overview of newly enacted laws from the 88th regular legislative session that have a major impact on ERS’ benefits programs. The following table provides additional information about all new laws that affect ERS’ benefits programs and operations.
ERS will continue to monitor special sessions for relevant legislation.
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Passed Legislation Affecting the Employees Retirement System of Texas, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session
Bill | Author | Summary | Effective Date |
---|---|---|---|
General Appropriations Bills | |||
SB 1 | Huffman | Retirement:
Group Health Plan:
| |
HB 1 | Bonnen | ||
Retirement | |||
HB 1393 | Frank | Creates new optional retirement annuity that begins at an actuarially reduced amount, but increases over time. | Sept. 1, 2023 |
SB 1245 | Huffman | Creates a new cash balance benefit for judges who take office on or after Sept. 1, 2024. | Sept. 1, 2024 |
SB 729 | Huffman | Technical corrections to the cash balance benefit for individuals employed by the state on or after Sept. 2, 2022. | May 19, 2023 |
SB 1509 | Huffman | Repeals the provision that allows certain ERS members to retire in place. | May 19, 2023 |
Chapter 615 (Survivor benefits for officers killed in the line of duty) | |||
HB 90 | Patterson | Would provide Chapter 615 benefits to survivors of Texas Military killed on duty in active duty. | Sept. 1, 2023 |
Insurance | |||
Insurance - Coverages | |||
HB 109 | Johnson J. | Requires health plans, including the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP), to permit participants to choose hearing aids. | Sept. 1, 2023 |
HB 916 | Ordaz | Requires a health plan, including the GBP, to cover a 12-month supply of a contraceptive drug when refilled. | Sept. 1, 2023 |
Insurance - Plan Design/Funding | |||
HB 4990 | Bonnen | Creates the Pharmaceutical Initiative to provide cost-effective access to prescription drugs for state health plans, including the GBP. | June 12, 2023 |
Insurance - Eligibility | |||
HB 1455 | Anchia | Permits wrongfully imprisoned individuals to enroll their dependents in the GBP. | Sept. 1, 2023 |
HB 3813 | DeAyala | Allows certain annuitants with ERS and TRS service to receive health insurance from ERS. | Sept. 1, 2023 |
Legislative Presentations & Resources
- Interim Hearing State Pension Reforms presentation to Senate Finance Cmte., May 4, 2022 (pdf)
- Interim Hearing Inflation presentation to Senate Finance Cmte., May 4, 2022 (pdf)
- House Appropriations Cmte. presentation, Feb. 23, 2021 (pdf)
- Retirement Fund presentation to Senate Finance Cmte., Feb. 9, 2021 (pdf)
- Joint Budget Hearing presentation, Nov. 6, 2020 (pdf)
- Letter to House Select Cmte. on Statewide Health Care Costs, Oct. 1, 2020 (pdf)
- Letter to House Pension, Investments and Financial Services Cmte., Aug. 29, 2020 (pdf)
- Investment presentation to Senate Finance Cmte., Feb. 25, 2020 (pdf)