All Roll Calls
Yes: 152 • No: 0
FloridaHB 40632026HouseWALLET
West Palm Beach Police Pension Fund - Special Act Amendment
Sponsored By: Debra Tendrich (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
AppropriationIntergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeGovernment Operations SubcommitteeState Affairs CommitteeRules
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 5 costs, 4 mixed.
Higher pensions for qualifying police members
Beginning October 1, 2026, qualifying retirements earn 3.2% of final average salary per service year, up to 26 years. Each year or fraction beyond 26 adds 1%. Members who terminated, retired, or entered the deferred retirement program before October 1, 2026, are excluded from this increase. Members active September 30, 2026, keep their accrued benefit and a minimum of 2.75% of final average salary per credited year. Separately, beginning May 6, 2022, the law restores the 2011–2017 service rate from 2.68% to 3%. That restoration covers service between October 1, 2011, and October 1, 2017, for members retiring or entering deferred retirement after May 5, 2022.
Higher yearly cap for police pensions
The law raises the stated yearly police pension cap from $160,000 to $280,000 for 2025. The cap continues to receive federal cost-of-living adjustments. This raises the ceiling, not every member's pension.
Police retirees face income choice limits
Normal police retirees cannot return to City employment as police officers or in jobs supervising police officers. If they take either role, pension payments stop until that employment ends. Members also cannot change their chosen retirement option after the first deferred retirement account deposit. The option locks sooner if they first cash or deposit their first retirement check.
Full deferred pensions for qualifying police
Former vested police members can avoid an early-retirement pension cut at age 50 with 20 credited service years. They can also avoid it at age 55 with 10 credited service years. This applies to members leaving with at least 10 years who were ineligible for another retirement benefit under the act at termination. Members who miss both age-and-service tests receive benefits under the early-retirement rules.
Payment limits for police service purchases
Police members buying prior police or military service must pay at least the current member contributions for that period. This minimum is added to the other stated purchase costs. For limitation years beginning after December 31, 1997, voluntary service purchases must meet federal benefit or contribution limits. Purchased service cannot already be credited, and voluntary payments cannot exceed the amount needed to fund the benefit. Additional service periods qualify only when the system otherwise allows them.
New calculations for police pension values
The law removes the specified 8.00% interest rate and RP-2000 death-rate table for equivalent pension and lump-sum values. Calculations must project improving life expectancy through the retirement year. Death-rate blends remain 90% male and 10% female for members, and 10% male and 90% female for beneficiaries. For extra-payment decisions, the actuary values future payments as of September 30 using assumptions from the latest required actuarial report. That replaces the stated 7% yearly interest assumption.
Police pension pay includes new limits
Pensionable pay excludes lump-sum leave payments and specified off-duty vendor pay. Overtime counts without a cap before January 1, 2005, then only up to 400 hours per 26 consecutive pay periods. Beginning January 1, 2013, that cap drops to 300 hours. City differential wages for qualified military service count when paid after December 31, 2008. Beginning June 6, 2017, lump-sum retroactive pay counts in the periods it covers when calculating final average salary.
Returning police can restore pension credits
Returning police officers can restore forfeited service credit by repaying withdrawn contributions with regular interest. They must start repayment within one year after rehire or reinstatement; otherwise, only the separate service-purchase option remains. Officers reinstated through grievance and arbitration avoid interest if they start within one year. Eligible officers rehired or reinstated after leaving without vesting also have their forfeited share accounts restored. That money comes from the next Chapter 185 distribution before the fund makes its usual allocations.
Broader beneficiary definition for police pensions
A person named to receive a police pension fund benefit after a retiree's death qualifies as a beneficiary. The law removes the prior exclusion of a retiree from that definition. The person still must be designated, and the benefit must be payable after the retiree's death.
More police pension lump-sum payment options
Police pension members can choose repeated partial lump-sum withdrawals from their individual share accounts until the balance runs out. The board can also pay a small pension as an equivalent lump sum. That option applies when monthly income is under $30 or its lump-sum value is under $7,000 at retirement or termination. The value threshold rises from $1,000, but board approval is still required.
Limits on police death and disability benefits
The fund must limit total death and disability benefits under the plan's incidental-benefit rules. Their cost cannot exceed 25% of the cost of all benefits members receive from the retirement system. This is a plan-level limit, not a stated 25% cut to each person's check.
Medical exams for new police members
New police pension members must undergo the City's post-offer, preemployment physical exam. It identifies existing health conditions and records a physical profile. The board's medical director reviews the results and reports abnormal findings to the board and member. The board pays for any further exam it requires.
Tighter rollover rules for police pensions
Only active police pension members can use the fund's rollover option. Cash rollovers must arrive within 60 days after distribution, or within 60 days after the last installment. Members must exclude after-tax contributions and certify rollover eligibility. An annuity from a direct rollover from a qualifying employer plan counts toward the federal yearly benefit limit when its calculation is more favorable than the federal minimum basis. This can leave less room under the cap for other pension benefits.
Required payout schedules for police pensions
Pension payouts must begin by April 1 following the later year of reaching the applicable age or leaving City employment. The age is 70½ for members reaching 70½ before December 31, 2019, or 72 for those reaching 72 before January 1, 2023. It is 73 for those reaching 72 after December 31, 2022, and 75 for those reaching 74 after December 31, 2032. After death, payout timing depends on beneficiary status, including surviving-spouse options after 2023. If required payouts already began, the remaining money must be paid at least as quickly as before death. Annuity payments must be no more than one year apart and follow permitted lifetime or life-expectancy schedules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Debra Tendrich
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/11/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 36 • No: 0
House vote • 2/25/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 116 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter No. 2026-213
7/1/2026Approved by Governor
6/8/2026Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
5/27/2026Ordered enrolled
3/11/2026HouseIn Messages
3/11/2026HousePassed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 791
3/11/2026SenateRead 3rd time -SJ 791
3/11/2026SenateRead 2nd time -SJ 791
3/11/2026SenatePlaced on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/11/2026SenateWithdrawn from Rules -SJ 785
3/11/2026SenatePlaced on Local Calendar, 03/11/26
3/9/2026SenateReceived
2/26/2026SenateReferred to Rules
2/25/2026SenateIn Messages
2/25/2026SenatePassed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0
2/25/2026HouseRead 3rd time
2/25/2026HouseAdded to Third Reading Calendar
2/25/2026HouseRead 2nd time
2/25/2026HouseBill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/19/2026HouseAdded to Second Reading Calendar
2/10/2026HouseBill released to House Calendar
2/10/2026HouseReported out of State Affairs Committee
2/10/2026HouseFavorable by State Affairs Committee
2/10/2026HouseAdded to State Affairs Committee agenda
2/6/2026HouseNow in State Affairs Committee
2/5/2026House
Bill Text
er
6/8/2026
Filed
1/6/2026