Committee advances governor-backed plan to raise public-safety retirement match to 15%

The Senate Retirement Committee advanced SB452, a governor-backed proposal to increase employer contribution matches on public-safety employees' defined-contribution retirement accounts to a maximum 15% after 10 years of service.

Senator Beau Hatchett, presenting the bill on behalf of Governor Kemp, said the model would gradually increase the employer contribution rate tied to years of service, with the maximum 15% match available after 10 years. "This approach enables Georgia to express support for our brave law enforcement ... improve recruitment and retention, and protect taxpayers by avoiding putting the state at long term financial risk," Hatchett said, framing the proposal as both a recruitment tool and a fiscally mindful change.

Senator Huffstetler, who described prior work raising a different match cap to 9%, said the higher match is intended to retain recruits and noted the state previously phased increases to reach that level. Committee members asked for statistics on recent losses to federal recruiting and for data that would show whether higher matches would materially improve retention. A presenter cited a Georgia State Patrol internal survey (2023) reporting that 41% of troopers said they would leave if a better retirement plan were available elsewhere and that 63% described their current retirement as "very inadequate." The presenter also referenced about 650 retired state troopers and long gaps in cost-of-living adjustments for retirees since 2009.

A motion to report SB452 favorably was made and seconded; the committee approved the bill by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Members requested follow-up statistics and noted historical changes to law-enforcement pensions in 2009 when the state shifted pension arrangements.

The measure was carried out of committee and the chair adjourned the meeting.