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HB 7276 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND GROUP LIFE INSURANCE FOR RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES.

HB 7276 establishes "MERS 2.0," a new retirement benefit tier for municipal employees in Connecticut. It affects new municipal employees hired on or after July 1, 2026 (for non-participating municipalities) or July 1, 2027 (for participating municipalities), requiring them to contribute 5% of regular pay (8% for public safety employees like police/fire). Retirement benefits are calculated as monthly payments based on average annual pay and total service time, with regular employees needing 30 years of service or 5 years plus age 65, and public safety employees needing 25 years or 5 years plus age 55. The bill also includes provisions for group life insurance coverage for retired state employees, though the primary focus in the text is on the retirement system changes.
Issues: ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes new retirement benefit tier (MERS 2.0) requiring employer contributions, expanding worker benefits for municipal employees under employment standards.85% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 10, 2025 Last action May 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → FIN Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was revised from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' with several substantive changes to the MERS 2.0 retirement plan. Key changes include adding a new definition for 'continuous service,' modifying the enrollment dates for different municipalities, reorganizing retirement eligibility criteria, and adding a new section requiring the creation of a defined contribution plan by July 1, 2026.
Scope change
The bill now applies to both participating and non-participating municipalities with different enrollment timelines, and adds requirements for creating a new defined contribution plan.
DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'continuous service' referencing section 7-425 of the general statutes.

TIMELINE

Changed the enrollment date for participating municipalities from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission to create a defined contribution plan by July 1, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Reorganized and clarified retirement eligibility criteria, separating conditions for standard members and public safety employees.

TECHNICAL

Modified the base pay definition to explicitly exclude sick leave and compensatory time payouts.

Floor votes · House May 28, 2025

How they voted

149–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 151
May 28, 2025
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican49
47 Yea 2
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
3
Committee
2
Amendments
1
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED, HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A
lower
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE ADOPTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Finance, Revenue and Bonding
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.