B 26-0358 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

First Responder Retention Efforts Amendment Act of 2025

The First Responder Retention Efforts Amendment Act of 2025 would expand the Metropolitan Police Department's Senior Officer Program to allow retired lieutenants to be rehired (previously limited to certain officers, detectives, and sergeants) and eliminate the mandatory retirement age of 60 for MPD officers and Fire and EMS workers. Under the bill, rehired lieutenants would receive specific pay rates (capped at Class 5, Step 3 lieutenant pay) without losing retirement benefits. This directly affects current and future retirees in MPD and FEMS, aiming to retain experienced staff, address staffing shortages, and support training for new personnel. The changes are designed to help these departments maintain stability and better anticipate future workforce needs.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags: Public Safety

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Council Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Sep 17, 2025 Signed Jun 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Engrossment · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated to change the effective year from 2025 to 2026 and to remove the mandatory retirement age of 60 for police and fire/EMS workers. The scope of the Senior Officer Program was expanded to include lieutenants, who previously could not be rehired under this program. These changes aim to retain experienced staff and address staffing shortages in public safety agencies.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include Metropolitan Police Department Lieutenants in the Senior Officer Program, whereas it previously only applied to officers, detectives, and sergeants. Additionally, the retirement age exemption now applies to both MPD and Fire/EMS workers.

TIMELINE

The bill's citation year was changed from 2025 to 2026, likely reflecting a delay in introduction or a clerical update.

ELIGIBILITY

Lieutenants are now eligible to be rehired under the MPD Senior Officer Program, expanding the pool of experienced officers available for re-employment.

REQUIREMENT

The mandatory retirement age of 60 was removed for both Metropolitan Police Department officers and Fire and Emergency Medical Services workers.

Floor votes · Council Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Mar 31, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Feb 23, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0358 by the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee

legislature

Oct 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

B26-0358 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors