Labor & Employment (Retirement Benefits) in Minnesota

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SF 4499: Public employees police and fire retirement plan

This bill modifies Minnesota's public employees police and fire retirement plan to allow members receiving retirement annuities to return to work without having their benefits suspended or reduced. It creates a new rule that permits annuitants to reemploy in covered positions as early as 31 days after retirement, ensuring their pension payments continue unchanged during the period of reemployment. The legislation also clarifies that members returning to work do not need to repay previously received annuity payments unless they returned before the 31-day waiting period, and it prevents additional contributions to the retirement plan during reemployment. These changes specifically apply to members of the public employees police and fire retirement plan and the general employees retirement plan.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits Workforce Development

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 16, 2026

HF 4162: Teachers Retirement Association; employer of a reemployed annuitant required to make employer contributions to the teachers retirement fund.

This bill requires employers in Minnesota to make retirement contributions for teachers who return to work after receiving a pension. It applies to any school district or employer unit covered by the Teachers Retirement Association when a retired teacher resumes teaching service. Under the new rules, employers must contribute to the retirement fund during the period of reemployment, and the bill clarifies how salary thresholds affect annuity deferrals for reemployed retirees. The changes take effect immediately upon final enactment of the legislation.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers Retirement Benefits Workforce Development

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SF 4230: Legislators permission to elect coverage by the general state employees retirement plan

This bill allows members of the Minnesota legislature to voluntarily choose to participate in the general state employees retirement plan through the Minnesota State Retirement System. It directly affects state legislators and modifies existing retirement statutes to include elected coverage for legislative members alongside current state employees. The key provision adds a new clause to the state's retirement laws, enabling legislators to opt into the same retirement plan as other classified state workers if they choose to do so. This change does not require legislators to join the plan but provides them with the option to elect coverage under the same terms as other state employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 4797: Minnesota Secure Choice retirement program provisions modification

This bill modifies the Minnesota Secure Choice retirement program by updating definitions and operational requirements for employers and employees. It expands the program's annual reporting requirements to include details on financial performance, program expenses, participation statistics, and potential impacts on social safety net programs. The legislation clarifies which workers are excluded from automatic enrollment, such as those under 18, federal employees, and temporary workers hired for less than 180 days, while allowing some temporary workers to opt into the program. Additionally, the bill establishes specific enrollment windows for new employees and defines a 30-day waiting period for program participation.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Minnesota · House May 4, 2026

HF 3953: Public employees police and fire retirement plan; application of the reduction for reemployment earnings taken from disability benefits to members who began disability payments before July 1, 2023 modified.

This bill modifies how disability benefits are reduced for Minnesota police, firefighter, and paramedic members who started receiving disability payments before July 1, 2023, when they return to work. It changes the calculation method for reducing disability benefits when these members earn income from other employment, ensuring the reduction applies consistently to those who began disability before the specified date. The legislation updates existing rules to clarify how much disability benefits decrease based on reemployment earnings, using a dollar-for-dollar reduction ratio for certain service levels and a tiered approach for others. This change affects only current disability recipients who started their benefits prior to the July 1, 2023 cutoff, while members who began receiving benefits on or after that date remain subject to previously established reduction rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits Workforce Development

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 3703: Process for firefighter relief associations to terminate retirement plan modified.

HF 3703 modifies the process for firefighter relief associations to terminate their retirement plans. It requires boards to precisely calculate assets, liabilities, and administrative costs before termination, and mandates that all retirement benefits be distributed within 210 days of termination. The bill also changes how any remaining surplus funds after benefit payments are allocated between the association and the affiliated municipality, requiring the municipality to receive a portion of the surplus or negotiate a shared allocation. This directly affects firefighter relief associations, their current and retired members, and the cities or towns that fund these plans. The changes aim to clarify financial accountability and ensure timely benefit distribution during plan termination.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SF 3897: Firefighter relief associations termination of retirement plan process modifications

This bill modifies the process for firefighter relief associations in Minnesota when terminating their retirement plans. It requires boards of trustees to calculate specific assets, accrued benefits for participants, and administrative costs within 210 days of termination. The bill establishes clear rules for allocating any surplus funds between the retirement association and the affiliated municipality, including mandatory 50/50 split if agreement isn't reached within 180 days. It also mandates that surplus amounts be distributed proportionally to eligible participants based on their accrued benefits. These changes directly affect firefighter retirement associations, their participants, and the municipalities they serve.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SF 3828: Maple Plain firefighter retirement plan provisions modification

SF 3828 modifies the process for the Maple Plain Fire Department to leave Minnesota's statewide volunteer firefighter retirement plan. It requires the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) to invest the department's assets in low-risk investments after the bill's effective date and establishes a two-stage allocation of any surplus assets (assets exceeding liabilities) to departing firefighters. The first stage allocates surplus to firefighters under age 50 based on years of service and accrued benefits, while the second stage distributes remaining surplus proportionally among all departing firefighters. This bill directly affects Maple Plain Fire Department volunteer firefighters who are transitioning out of the statewide retirement plan.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 12, 2025

SF 3507: Teachers Retirement Association provisions modifications; appropriating money

This bill modifies Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) rules to allow an unreduced retirement annuity for members who reach age 60 with 30 years of service, removing previous penalties for retiring early. It increases employer contributions from school districts to the TRA, raising rates to 9.5% for coordinated members and 13.5% for basic members after June 2025. The bill also adjusts pension adjustment revenue rates for school districts, setting higher rates (e.g., 2.05% for most districts, 3.25% for St. Paul) for fiscal years 2026 and later. These changes directly affect TRA members, current teachers, and school districts funding the retirement system.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Pensions Retirement Benefits

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 21, 2025

HF 2237: Minnesota State Retirement System; multiplier used to calculate the annuity amount for general state employees retirement plan increased; and postretirement adjustment increased for general state employees retirement plan, legislators retirement plan, and unclassified state employees retirement program.

HF 2237 increases retirement benefits for Minnesota state employees covered under three plans: the General State Employees Retirement Plan, Legislators Retirement Plan, and Unclassified State Employees Retirement Program. The bill raises the annuity multiplier from 1.7% to 1.9% per year for retirement service after June 30, 2025, and increases the annual postretirement adjustment from 1.5% to 1.75% for recipients with over 12 months of benefits. These changes, effective July 1, 2025, will directly increase monthly retirement payments for eligible current and future retirees. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 352.115 and 356.415 to implement these specific percentage adjustments.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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