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Senate adopts resolution urging steps to improve retirement readiness for Colorado public employees
Summary
The Colorado Senate adopted Senate Joint Resolution 16 recognizing retirement security concerns for public employees and encouraging financial education and consideration of lifetime-income options; proponents cited PERA’s role serving roughly 226,000 workers and urged more educational outreach.
The Colorado Senate adopted Senate Joint Resolution 16 on March 18, 2026, recognizing the importance of retirement security and urging greater access to financial education and lifetime-income options for public employees. The resolution passed by voice vote with the tally recorded as 34 Aye, 0 No and 1 excused.
Senator Linstead, who moved the resolution, said the focus on retirement savings is an issue that cuts across generations. "As the youngest member of the state senate, I think it's important that we stand together to remember that retirement savings are something that everyone should be concerned about," Linstead said, and noted the roughly 226,000 public employees who rely on the state’s retirement system.
Senator Kolker, who identified himself as a certified financial planner, spoke in support and framed the resolution as a commonsense step to increase awareness. "My day job is to help people save for retirement ... We know that it takes 70 to 80 percent of your highest lifetime income to retire," Kolker said, and urged broader access to information about PERA and voluntary savings options.
The resolution’s text, as read on the floor, highlights the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), describes the two plan types (defined benefit and defined contribution) and encourages consideration of lifetime-income options and expanded financial-education efforts. The resolution also directs that copies be sent to relevant legislative committees, including the Senate and House finance and labor committees and the pension review commission.
Supporters characterized the measure as nonbinding recognition and an encouragement for policy discussion rather than a statutory change. The resolution does not itself change PERA plan rules; it asks that lawmakers and committees consider options to improve retirement readiness and increase access to education and lifetime-income choices.
The Senate added the current roll call as cosponsors and adopted the measure without recorded opposition. The resolution will be transmitted to the committees named in its text for further consideration and awareness-raising.
