All Roll Calls
Yes: 125 • No: 0
ArkansasHB11542025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
TO ENACT THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM'S GENERAL OMNIBUS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Sponsored By: Kim Hammer (Republican), Les Warren (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
New survivor benefits for teachers’ families
Beginning July 1, 2025, surviving-spouse eligibility covers members with at least 25 credited service years and retirement eligibility under § 24-7-701 or § 24-7-702. When multiple dependent children are named Option B beneficiaries and no spouse is named, they equally share half the retiree’s reduced annuity. Eligible residue beneficiaries must have their Option A election form received by the system by the fourth full calendar month’s end after death, replacing the 120-day deadline. The law also removes the survivor-payment date rule and the rule sending residue to the last deceased beneficiary’s estate when all beneficiaries died before the retiree. The supplied text does not identify replacement rules or resulting payment changes for those repeals.
More workers can join employer plans
Beginning July 1, 2025, new employees can join their employer’s PSHE plan when the employer finds them benefits-eligible. They must be vested Arkansas Teacher Retirement System members at hiring, or nonvested members meeting the employer’s less restrictive plan requirements. Employees must sign the system’s participation form, which makes their choice permanent. The change opens access to eligible nonvested members. The supplied text does not state plan benefits or costs.
Job changes required teacher retirement contributions
The law sets a contribution-status rule for July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2025. Active Arkansas Teacher Retirement System members became contributing members after changing from nonteacher jobs to teacher or administrator jobs. Their contracts had to cover at least 185 days. This applied even when members had previously chosen not to contribute. The supplied text does not state contribution amounts.
New price rule for federal service credit
Beginning July 1, 2025, Arkansas Teacher Retirement System members receive federal service credit after making the required payment. Members must pay the actuarial value of their benefits and meet the Board of Trustees’ additional requirements. This replaces the former “cost of service” payment standard. The law does not state the payment amount or whether it rises or falls.
Employers lose paper contribution reporting waivers
Beginning July 1, 2025, participating employers lose the temporary waiver from electronic retirement contribution reporting and payment. The law removes the waiver request process and its deadlines. This affects Arkansas Teacher Retirement System employer procedures, not any stated household benefit or contribution amount.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Kim Hammer
Republican • Senate
Les Warren
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/24/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, February 24, 2025 2:30:00 PM
Yes: 32 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, February 19, 2025 2:03:15 PM
Yes: 93 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1154 is now Act 222
2/27/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
2/24/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
2/24/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
2/24/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed.
2/24/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
2/24/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
2/24/2025SenateRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.
2/19/2025SenateReceived from the House.
2/19/2025SenateEMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED
2/19/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
2/19/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
2/18/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC RETIREMENT & SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS-JOINT
1/16/2025HouseFiled
1/16/2025House
Bill Text
HB1154 - Introduced
1/16/2025
Act Version
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