Committee adds We Lead CS to TRS employers list, directs annual employer liability breakdown

The House State Government Committee on Wednesday approved House Bill 73 as amended to add We Lead CS to the list of agencies eligible to participate directly in the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) and to instruct TRS to provide an annual breakdown of each employer’s share of unfunded actuarial liability.

Representative D.J. Johnson, who sponsored the bill, told the committee that the original language simply added We Lead CS, a provider of computer-science training to multiple school districts established by the General Assembly in 2022, to the statutory list of TRS employers. Johnson said We Lead CS currently participates in TRS but — likely because of an administrative error — is not authorized to directly administer retirement program responsibilities in the same way as other listed providers.

A committee substitute was offered to add a reporting requirement. A committee member described the sub as directing TRS to perform an annual review, prepared by the system’s actuary, showing the breakdown of each employer’s share of the system’s unfunded liability. The speaker said the change would allow trustees and legislators to see how much each employer contributes to the unfunded liability as determined by the actuary.

Committee members asked whether the substitute carried a fiscal note. A committee member replied there was no fiscal note for the sub and that at most an actuarial analysis might be required; the member said they did not expect a fiscal impact but offered to verify.

By roll call, House Bill 73 as amended passed the committee by a vote of 19-0 with a favorable recommendation.

The bill will next follow the Legislature’s normal process for committee-recommended measures.