Georgia House Bill HB895

Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/31/25

Caption

Legislative Retirement System; increase retirement benefit amounts payable to certain legislators upon retirement

Impact

If enacted, HB895 will revise the monthly service retirement allowance calculations for legislators. Specifically, it establishes a new allowance of $50 for each year of creditable service and an additional $200 for presiding service for those who were contributing members as of January 1, 2022, or later. There is an even higher benefit plan set to commence for those contributing members on or after January 1, 2026, who will earn $75 per year of service and $300 for presiding service. This change could impact the financial well-being of current and future legislators significantly, as it aims to provide them with more substantial retirement benefits.

Summary

House Bill 895 aims to amend Chapter 6 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated by increasing the retirement benefit amounts payable to certain legislators upon their retirement. The bill specifically revises existing statutes related to the Georgia Legislative Retirement System, providing more favorable retirement allowances to legislators based on their years of service. The proposals under HB895 intend to ensure that legislators receive a more substantial monthly service retirement allowance that reflects their tenure and contribution to the legislative body.

Contention

While the bill appears to enhance the retirement benefits for legislators, potential points of contention may arise around issues of funding and fairness. Questions about how the increased benefits will be funded are critical, as the legislation includes a provision that states it will only take effect if it is determined to be concurrently funded. Additionally, there could be concerns among taxpayers about the appropriateness of increasing retirement benefits for public officials, particularly in the context of funding for other state services and programs. Critics may argue that such enhancements could contribute to a perception of legislative privilege, particularly if not accompanied by broader fiscal responsibility.