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LouisianaHB 11342026 Regular SessionHouse

RETIREMENT/STATE EMPS: Creates the Back-Deferred Retirement Option Program within the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System (EN SEE ACTUARIAL NOTE APV)

Sponsored By: Jacob Braud (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Retirement

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Earlier retirement for some Louisiana judges

A special rule lets covered Louisiana judges retire regardless of age or years of service. They must hold office on the law's effective date in a judgeship or division designated for abolition upon retirement or resignation. Judges must make a final choice to retire under the law before December 31, 2026, and cannot seek judicial office afterward. Their maximum annual benefit uses service credit and final average pay, as though they qualified for regular retirement. If abolition depends on a final declaration not to seek reelection, that declaration must occur before July 1, 2026. In that case, retirement must be set for December 31, 2026, or earlier.

Judges get lump sums, smaller pensions

The law creates a Back-DROP retirement option within the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System. It covers active, contributing judges whose jobs are designated by law to end when they retire. Judges must qualify for regular retirement, have enough extra service, and retire before their term ends to generate state savings. They cannot seek another judicial office or have previously used the Deferred Retirement Option Plan. The choice is final, can be used only once, and must be made at retirement by June 30, 2027. Judges choose whole months, capped at the smallest of 36 months, service months after retirement eligibility, or months left in their term. The lump sum equals the maximum monthly retirement benefit multiplied by the chosen months. Monthly pension calculations exclude those service months and keep the same survivor choices; Back-DROP calculations also exclude reciprocally recognized service. Employee and employer contributions for the selected period, plus interest, stay with the retirement system and are not refunded. Courts must pay extra contributions at retirement for the selected months, using final salary and the contribution rate then in effect. Any costs of the law are funded through additional employer contributions rather than new general fund appropriations.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jacob Braud

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 241 • No: 0

House vote • 5/26/2026

Read by title, roll called, yeas 101, nays 0. The Senate amendments, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, were concurred in.

Yes: 101 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/18/2026

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 94 • No: 0

House vote • 4/9/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 705.

    6/2/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    6/2/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/28/2026House

  4. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/27/2026House

  5. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/27/2026Senate

  6. Read by title, roll called, yeas 101, nays 0. The Senate amendments, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, were concurred in.

    5/26/2026House

  7. Scheduled for concurrence on 05/26/2026.

    5/25/2026House

  8. Received from the Senate with amendments.

    5/19/2026House

  9. Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/18/2026Senate

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

    5/7/2026Senate

  11. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/6/2026Senate

  12. Reported with amendments.

    5/5/2026Senate

  13. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Retirement.

    4/20/2026Senate

  14. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    4/15/2026House

  15. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    4/15/2026Senate

  16. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/15/2026.

    4/14/2026House

  17. Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

    4/13/2026House

  18. Reported favorably (10-0).

    4/9/2026House

  19. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Retirement.

    4/1/2026House

  20. Read by title. Lies over under the rules.

    3/31/2026House

Bill Text

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