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SB 852 Oregon Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to post-retirement death benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System.

SB 852 modifies post-retirement death benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System. For members of the individual account program who elected installment payments, any remaining account balance upon their death will now be paid as a lump sum to their beneficiaries. The bill also increases the minimum monthly benefit amount from $30 to $200 for surviving spouses or children of police officers and firefighters, below which a lump sum payment is issued instead of monthly allowances. Additionally, it clarifies conditions for pension adjustments for pension program members, specifying that certain benefit increases upon relationship termination apply to marriage relationships.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed May 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 4 edits · May 12, 2025
MODERATE
This bill modifies Oregon's Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) to clarify death benefit distribution rules and expand certain survivor benefits. The changes address how remaining account balances are paid when members die before receiving all installments, and adjust the minimum lump sum threshold for police and firefighter survivors.
Scope change
The bill expands applicability by adding provisions for members retiring under ORS chapter 238 (general state employees) to receive the same installment death benefit options as those in the individual account program.
REQUIREMENT

Changed how remaining account balances are distributed when a member dies before completing installment payments, replacing installment continuation with a lump sum distribution to beneficiaries.

Reduced the minimum lump sum threshold for police and firefighter survivors from $30 to $200 per month, affecting when survivors receive a lump sum instead of monthly payments.

Added new minimum distribution requirements aligning PERS individual account program distributions with federal 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(9) standards effective January 1, 2024.

SCOPE

Added provisions allowing members retiring under ORS chapter 238 to receive the same installment death benefit options available to individual account program members.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2025 · House May 1, 2025

How they voted

26–1
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 29
Feb 11, 2025
D Democratic17
16 Yea 1
94% Yea
R Republican12
10 Yea 1 Nay 1
83% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
7
Committee
4
May 12, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
upper
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Elmer. Passed.
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Labor and Workplace Standards.
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Hayden. Passed.
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Labor and Business.
upper
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.