Committee hears testimony on public-safety pension changes, early retirement and presumptions

The House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing heard extended testimony on March 27 on multiple bills affecting police and firefighter retirement and disability rules, including proposals to permit earlier retirement for certain public-safety hires, restore prior accrual rates, extend disability presumptions to police, and raise outside-earnings caps for disability retirees.

Why it matters: The measures seek to change the pension and disability rules that govern when public-safety officers may retire and how their benefits are calculated. Sponsors and union representatives said changes address safety and recruitment challenges; treasury and municipal officials signaled fiscal concern and neutrality on some items.

What the bills would do (as presented to the committee) - House Bill 5230 / HB5471 (Representative McEntee and Representative Craven; similar proposals): Allow police officers and firefighters hired before 2012 and with 20–24 years of service to retire at age 57 with a reduced pension (approximately a 10% reduction…