PERS; law enforcement officers and firefighters hired after 3-1-26 may receive retirement allowance after 25 years of service.

HB 1036 would amend Mississippi's retirement system to allow law enforcement officers and firefighters hired into the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) on or after March 1, 2026, to receive a retirement allowance after 25 years of service, regardless of age. The bill changes existing rules by replacing age-based retirement requirements with a fixed 25-year service threshold for these specific professions. This policy change would apply only to new hires after the effective date, not to current or past employees. The bill modifies sections 25-11-103, 25-11-109, and related PERS code provisions to implement this adjustment.