MaineLD 579132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

An Act to Include Certain Nurses Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement

Sponsored By: Mike Tipping (Democratic)

Became Law

STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEMSTATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM - SPECIAL PLANS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

DHHS nurses join special retirement plan

Beginning October 1, 2026, DHHS nurses in these job classes can join the 1998 Special Plan: Nurse I, Nurse III, Hospital Nurse II, Hospital Nurse III, Hospital Nurse IV, and Licensed Practical Nurse. You qualify to retire with benefits if you are at least 55 with 10 years under this plan, or if you have 25 total years of creditable service. You can buy back prior service by repaying an earlier refund, even if that service was done years ago. Your benefit is figured using all your service in these nurse jobs. If you have service before and after October 1, 2026, the plan splits it into segments, and reductions apply if you retire before age 55 (up to 6% per year early).

New contribution rates for covered staff

Members in the covered roles must pay 8.65% of pay into retirement until they reach 25 years of creditable service. After 25 years, the rate is 7.65%. This applies starting October 1, 2026 for affected DHHS employees, including the newly added nurse group.

State funds DHHS retirement changes

The state must transfer $4,311,605 from the Budget Stabilization Fund to the General Fund by June 30, 2027. It provides ongoing funds for DHHS staff costs tied to the plan: $129,202 for Dorothea Dix and $87,156 for Riverview, plus $1,568 from the General Fund for children's mental health, starting October 1, 2026. It also gives a one-time $4,310,037 General Fund appropriation to the state retirement system to cover added liability.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mike Tipping

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Amy Roeder

    Democratic • House

  • Gary Drinkwater

    Republican • House

  • Richard Bradstreet

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 111 • No: 69

Senate vote 4/13/2026

RECEDE AND CONCUR

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote 4/13/2026

ADOPT HAH-1053 TO CAS-344

Yes: 76 • No: 69

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 747

    5/4/2026
  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    4/14/2026Senate
  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/14/2026House
  4. On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1053) thereto PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 950 Yeas 35 - Nays 0 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Ordered sent down forthwith.

    4/13/2026Senate
  5. On motion of Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, the House RECEDED.On motion of Representative GATTINE of Westbrook, House Amendment "A" (H-1053) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) was READ and ADOPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 811(Yeas 76 - Nays 69 - Absent 5 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1053) thereto was ADOPTED.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1053) thereto.In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/13/2026House
  6. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table. Same Senator moved to SUSPEND THE RULES to RECONSIDER whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) in concurrence. On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook OBJECTED. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin Bill and accompanying papers COMMITTED to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs In NON-CONCURRENCE. Sent down for concurrence.

    4/13/2026Senate
  7. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025Senate
  8. On motion by Senator RENY of Lincoln PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence

    6/13/2025Senate
  9. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/12/2025House
  10. Reports READ.On motion of Representative ROEDER of Bangor, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/11/2025House
  11. Reports READ On motion by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED. Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) Sent down for concurrence

    6/11/2025Senate
  12. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025Senate
  13. Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 19, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on LABOR pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2

    2/19/2025Senate

Bill Text

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