All Roll Calls
Yes: 408 • No: 84
MontanaHB 8569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Reinstating former employer contributions for JRS, HPORS, SRS, GWPORS
Sponsored By: Mark Reinschmidt (Republican)
Became Law
Public Officers and EmployeesRetirement
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Higher employer payments for sheriffs’ pensions
From July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, Sheriffs’ Retirement System employers pay 9.535% of covered pay. Starting July 1, 2024, employer rates are set by actuarial valuations, with legacy debt paid over a closed 25-year period beginning July 1, 2023, layered 10-year schedules for new debt, and a 0.5% cap on annual increases. Employers also pay an extra 3.58% of pay beginning July 1, 2023. The board reviews the extra payments each year and they can end after an actuarial report shows the amortization period stays under 25 years even after ending the extra payments and reducing member contributions.
New employer rates for game wardens’ pensions
From July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, employers in the Game Wardens’ and Peace Officers’ Retirement System pay 10.56% of covered pay. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks includes the state share in its budget. Starting July 1, 2024, employer rates are set by actuarial valuations, with legacy debt paid over a closed 25-year period beginning July 1, 2023, layered 10-year schedules for new debt, and a 0.5% cap on annual increases.
State restores funding for judges’ pensions
Beginning July 1, 2023, the state pays the employer share for the Judges’ Retirement System. Each rate takes effect on July 1 after the annual actuarial valuation. The rate covers normal cost minus employee contributions and pays down pension debt on layered 10-year schedules starting with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Starting July 1, 2024, the state also pays the chief water court judge’s employer share each month from the natural resources operations special revenue account.
Stronger actuarial oversight of public pensions
The retirement board must hire a qualified actuary who is an enrolled member of the American Academy of Actuaries. The board must get annual pension valuations for each defined benefit plan and regular investigations. The board must share these reports with state committees and the legislature.
Stronger funding for Highway Patrol pensions
From July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, the state pays 38.33% of each covered Highway Patrol officer’s pay for pensions (28.15% from regular sources and 10.18% from the general fund). Starting July 1, 2024, employer rates are set by actuarial valuations, with legacy debt paid over a closed 25-year period beginning July 1, 2023, layered 10-year schedules for new debt, and a 0.5% cap on annual increases. Each year by August 15, the state transfers $500,000 to the pension trust until the plan is 100% funded. For the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025, the state also provides $4.01 million and $713,013 to cover the Highway Patrol employer contribution.
Counties may raise property taxes for sheriffs’ pensions
If required Sheriffs’ Retirement System employer costs are higher than a county’s available revenue, the county may add a property tax mill levy to fund the gap. Voter approval is not required under 15-10-420(1), but the county must give notice and hold a public hearing before starting the levy. If the levy later drops or ends, that revenue cannot be merged with revenue under 15-10-420(1)(a).
When these pension changes take effect
Most of the law takes effect July 1, 2025. Sections 6 through 9 and section 12 take effect on passage and approval. Employer contribution changes for Highway Patrol, Sheriffs, and Game Wardens’ systems apply retroactively to on or after July 1, 2023.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Mark Reinschmidt
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/22/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 83 • No: 15
House vote • 4/18/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 95 • No: 2
House vote • 4/15/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 29 • No: 20
House vote • 4/10/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 27 • No: 22
House vote • 1/31/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 93 • No: 6
House vote • 1/22/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 81 • No: 19
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/16/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/12/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
5/5/2025HouseSigned by President
5/2/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
5/1/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/24/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/22/2025House3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
4/22/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
4/18/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
4/15/2025Senate3rd Reading Concurred
4/15/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred
4/14/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred
4/14/2025SenateHearing
4/12/2025SenateHearing
4/11/2025SenateRevised Fiscal Note Printed
4/11/2025HouseRereferred to Committee
4/10/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
4/10/2025SenateRevised Fiscal Note Signed
4/9/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Received
4/9/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Requested
4/7/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
4/5/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
4/4/2025SenateHearing
3/25/2025SenateReferred to Committee
2/18/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/22/2025
As Amended (Version 3)
4/5/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
1/17/2025
Introduced
12/16/2024