Relating to member data under the Public Employees Retirement System; and prescribing an effective date.

Clearer pension details with dispute deadlines

Beginning January 1, 2026, Oregon’s Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) must give retirement applicants more overtime details. Once PERS has the needed information, its written calculation must show overtime hours worked during the final-average-salary period. It must also show how many hours counted; this disclosure does not change the benefit formula. Members can dispute the calculation in writing by the later of two deadlines: 240 days after receiving the calculation and information summary, or 240 days after the retirement allowance becomes payable. PERS must check disputed information and issue a written decision explaining its calculation and the laws and rules applied. Members can seek court review. If the dispute changes the calculation, members have until 30 days after proceedings and any court review end to choose an optional payment form. After the dispute deadline, employers generally cannot change reported service, retirement credit, salary, employee contributions, or unused sick leave. Exceptions cover later judgments, administrative orders, arbitration awards, settlements or other agreements; compliance with ORS 238.156 or 238A.150; and dispute-related corrections. PERS keeps its authority to correct wrong calculations on its own. The law raises PERS Operations Division spending authority by $499,986 for the two-year period beginning July 1, 2025, to implement these changes. This authority covers fees and other revenue, excluding lottery and federal funds. The act takes effect 91 days after the 2025 regular session adjourns, and the PERS Board can prepare before January 1, 2026.