Lawmakers hear divided testimony on bill to ban employer "pension pickups"

At a third hearing on House Bill 473, the Ohio House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee heard more than a dozen witnesses on whether to ban employer "pension pickup" contributions, a practice where local employers pay part or all of an employee—s required retirement contribution. The hearing opened with testimony from teachers and public-safety unions who warned the ban would weaken local bargaining and worsen staffing shortages; think tanks and policy groups said a ban would improve transparency and fiscal accountability.

William Boone, introduced to the committee as representing the Berea Federation of Teachers and testifying on behalf of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, told lawmakers: "How does this help address the teacher shortage crisis? ... It doesn't." Boone said pension pickups "are negotiated tools that local school boards and unions use to attract and retain qualified educators," and argued banning them would remove a flexible compensation option used after years of limited raises. He cited "more than 15,000 unfilled education positions…