GeorgiaHB 4382025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; allow certain sworn law enforcement officers to be eligible for retirement benefits at age 55; provisions

Sponsored By: Shaw Blackmon (Republican), Beth Camp (Republican), Clint Crowe (Republican), Bill Hitchens (Republican), Eddie Lumsden (Republican), Deborah Silcox (Republican)

Signed by Governor

RetirementGeneral Bill

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.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Earlier retirement for Georgia public safety workers

The law sets normal retirement at age 55 with at least 10 years of credited service for covered Georgia employees. Covered jobs include specified Public Safety sworn officers, noncommissioned officers, troopers, and the commissioner and deputy commissioner. They also include Georgia Bureau of Investigation officers and agents, Natural Resources game wardens, and specified Revenue enforcement officers and agents. Driver Services investigators, Corrections criminal investigators and K-9 handlers, and state-paid district attorney investigators are also covered. For general retirement-system members, normal retirement is age 60 with 10 years of credited service, or reaching 30 service years. Pension rights become protected from forfeiture at the applicable normal retirement age. The law defines highest average pay as the highest average monthly earnable pay over any 24-month period. Benefit calculations use that pay, with a minimum of 2% for each year of credited service. Covered age-55 allowances cannot fall below the age-65 service allowance using the same pay and service. Public Safety sworn officers employed on or after July 1, 2026, and the commissioner and deputy commissioner gain explicit regular-retirement coverage. Members must apply for retirement; the age-55 rule also applies for distributions under federal tax rule 402(l). These changes start July 1, 2026, only upon the required concurrent-funding determination under Georgia retirement funding law. Without that funding, the act never takes effect and automatically repeals on July 1, 2026.

Stronger disability pensions for Georgia safety workers

The law expands permanent disability pension protection for covered contributing members of Georgia's Employees' Retirement System. Coverage includes specified Public Safety officers, noncommissioned officers, troopers, and the commissioner and deputy commissioner. It also includes Georgia Bureau of Investigation officers and agents, Natural Resources game wardens, and specified Revenue enforcement officers and agents. Parallel benefit rules cover deputy game wardens appointed under Public Safety authority and state parole, probation, and community supervision officers. Members must become permanently disabled through external violence or a line-of-duty injury. They must apply in writing and receive medical-board certification after an examination. The main formula uses life expectancy, without an optional payment form, and treats members as having at least 30 service years. The allowance cannot exceed 80% of the service allowance calculated at age 65, using pay from the disability month. A monthly supplement adds $5 per year of qualifying service, up to $150. Members can instead choose a larger minimum benefit: 2% of disability-month earnable pay for each service year counted through mandatory retirement age. That alternative applies until mandatory retirement age and replaces the specified main benefits. These changes start July 1, 2026, only upon the required concurrent-funding determination under Georgia retirement funding law. Without that funding, the act never takes effect and automatically repeals on July 1, 2026.

Georgia officers can buy prior service credit

The law broadens which Georgia officers qualify to buy pension credit for earlier full-time local-government law enforcement work. It includes specified Public Safety sworn officers, noncommissioned officers, troopers, and the commissioner and deputy commissioner. Members need at least 10 years in the Employees' Retirement System and qualifying local service before joining. Their former jobs must include lawful arrest powers and law enforcement duties. Members cannot qualify for present or future benefits from a retirement plan tied to that local work. The Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund is an exception. Members can buy up to five service years, but no more than their actual qualifying local service. They must apply and pay the full actuarial cost certified by the retirement board—the amount needed to fund the added credit. These changes start July 1, 2026, only upon the required concurrent-funding determination under Georgia retirement funding law. Without that funding, the act never takes effect and automatically repeals on July 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Rick Williams
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 211 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 52 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 3/4/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 159 • No: 0 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

Effective Date
7/1/2026
House Date Signed by Governor
5/11/2026House
Act 439
5/11/2026
House Sent to Governor
4/6/2026House
Senate Third Read
3/25/2026Senate
Senate Passed/Adopted
3/25/2026Senate
Senate Read Second Time
3/19/2026Senate
Senate Committee Favorably Reported
3/18/2026Senate
Senate Read and Referred
3/6/2026Senate
House Third Readers
3/4/2026House
House Passed/Adopted
3/4/2026House
House Committee Favorably Reported
2/25/2026House
House Second Readers
2/18/2025House
House First Readers
2/13/2025House
House Hopper
2/12/2025House

Bill Text

HB 438/AP* (v5)
PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation