UtahS.B. 222025 General SessionSenateWALLET

State Employee Benefit Amendments

Sponsored By: Wayne A. Harper (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Public Retirement and InsurancePublic Employees' Health ProgramPublic Employees Insurance and BenefitsPublic Employees Long-term Disabilities Benefits

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.

More disability help for public employees

Beginning May 7, 2025, qualifying extra work hours count toward the salary used to calculate Utah public employees' disability benefits. The program uses average extra hours over the prior 12 months, capped at 10 hours per week. Those hours are valued at base pay, not an overtime premium. Extra pay counts only when the employer's certified amount does not already include it. Employees receiving long-term disability benefits also qualify for any life assistance counseling the program offers.

New death payment for public employees' beneficiaries

Beginning May 7, 2025, eligible employees in Utah's public employee long-term disability program are covered by its beneficiary-designation rules. If an employee dies while receiving long-term disability benefits, their beneficiary gets a one-time payment. The payment equals three months of the employee's monthly disability benefit. It is not subject to the benefit reductions listed in Utah Code Section 49-21-402.

Public employees face new disability work test

Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah changes the work test used to decide public employees' long-term disability eligibility. A job counts as gainful employment when it pays at least 60% of the employee's regular monthly salary, regardless of hours. The job must be expected to continue during a fiscal or calendar year. This replaces the test based on 40 hours per week at minimum wage. The change can make disability eligibility easier for some employees and harder for others.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Wayne A. Harper
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Cheryl K. Acton
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 175 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Senate/ concurs with House amendment

Yes: 24 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2025

House/ passed 3rd reading

Yes: 69 • No: 0

House vote • 2/13/2025

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

Yes: 10 • No: 0

House vote • 2/13/2025

House Comm - Amendment Recommendation

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/24/2025

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

Yes: 25 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/23/2025

Senate/ passed 2nd reading

Yes: 27 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/22/2025

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

Yes: 5 • No: 0