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LouisianaHB 422026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

RETIREMENT/TEACHERS: Provides relative to a phased retirement program within the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (EN INCREASE FC GF EX See Note)

Sponsored By: Tony Bacala (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Retirement

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More employer-paid retirement support for college workers

Since July 1, 2018, public college boards and their employers must contribute through the Teachers' Retirement System for Optional Retirement Plan participants. Beginning July 1, 2026, an additional employer contribution equals 1.8% of pay, but requires appropriated funding. The Board of Regents must report whether funding is appropriated by the start of each fiscal year. Boards set contribution amounts and may approve higher amounts, with any excess uniform across their institutions for that year. The retirement system must promptly send designated plan companies the board-set amount or combined required amounts, whichever is greater. Employers currently pay the monthly fee balance after the participant's share; beginning July 1, 2027, employers pay the full fee. The law does not state the fee amount. Any costs of the act must be funded through additional employer contributions under Louisiana's constitutional funding rule.

College workers gain phased retirement with limits

Louisiana public college management boards may offer voluntary phased retirement, but programs cannot start before July 1, 2027. Boards may adopt policies earlier. Employees must be eligible to retire under Teachers' Retirement System rules and be at least 59 years, 6 months old. They need at least 10 years of combined Louisiana public college service without a refund of retirement contributions. Participation lasts 12–36 months and requires at least 50% of full-time work. A written agreement must describe workload, schedule, and expectations, with written employee acknowledgment. The institution or system's human resources officer must approve it, along with academic and fiscal officers where applicable. Board policies must set waiting periods and procedures for reemployment after phased retirement. Participants cannot also hold another job eligible for a different retirement system.

Smaller pensions while college employees keep working

Approved Teachers' Retirement System members must apply for retirement to receive a pension during phased retirement. Their starting full regular pension is reduced by their approved work percentage; working 50% means receiving 50% of that pension. After participation ends, they receive the full regular pension calculated when participation began. Neither employees nor employers contribute to the defined benefit pension plan during participation. The pension calculation, average compensation, and service credit stay fixed at their starting levels.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tony Bacala

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Aimee Adatto Freeman

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Carpenter

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Reich Freiberg

    Republican • House

  • C. Denise Marcelle

    Democratic • House

  • Dana Henry

    Democratic • House

  • Roy Daryl Adams

    Democratic • House

  • Doyle Boudreaux

    Republican • House

  • Dustin Miller

    Democratic • House

  • Ed Murray

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Stagni

    Affiliation unavailable

  • John E. Wyble

    Republican • House

  • Kathy Edmonston

    Republican • House

  • Mike Johnson

    Republican • House

  • Pat Moore

    Democratic • House

  • Reese "Skip" Broussard

    Republican • House

  • Sylvia Elaine Taylor

    Democratic • House

  • Vanessa Caston LaFleur

    Democratic • House

  • Wilford Carter Sr.

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 392 • No: 1

Senate vote • 6/1/2026

Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 6/1/2026

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 101, nays 0. Having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, the Conference Committee Report was adopted.

Yes: 101 • No: 0

House vote • 5/29/2026

Read by title, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0. The Senate amendments, not having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, were rejected. Conference committee appointment pending.

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/26/2026

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 4/27/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 1. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 98 • No: 1

House vote • 4/21/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 16 • No: 0

House vote • 3/26/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 781.

    6/9/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    6/9/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    6/4/2026House

  4. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    6/1/2026House

  5. Called from the calendar.

    6/1/2026House

  6. Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 101, nays 0. Having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, the Conference Committee Report was adopted.

    6/1/2026House

  7. Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

    6/1/2026Senate

  8. Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.

    6/1/2026Senate

  9. Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.

    6/1/2026House

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

    6/1/2026House

  11. Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.

    6/1/2026Senate

  12. Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.

    5/31/2026House

  13. Conference committee report received.

    5/31/2026Senate

  14. Scheduled for floor debate on 06/01/2026.

    5/31/2026House

  15. Read by title, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0. The Senate amendments, not having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, were rejected. Conference committee appointment pending.

    5/29/2026House

  16. Notice House rejected the Senate amendments.

    5/29/2026Senate

  17. Senate conference committee members appointed: Price, Owen, and Barthelemy.

    5/29/2026Senate

  18. House conferees appointed: Bacala, Turner, and Brass.

    5/29/2026House

  19. Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.

    5/29/2026Senate

  20. Notice of Senate conferees appointed.

    5/29/2026House

  21. Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.

    5/27/2026House

  22. Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/26/2026Senate

  23. Received from the Senate with amendments.

    5/26/2026House

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

    5/21/2026Senate

  25. Rules suspended. Recalled from Committee.

    5/20/2026Senate

Bill Text

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