25-Year Retirement for First Responders.

This bill expands retirement options for first responders in North Carolina, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel, by allowing them to retire with full benefits after completing 25 years of service. It establishes a new retirement provision effective January 1, 2027, which calculates pension amounts based on a specific percentage of average final compensation multiplied by years of service, rather than requiring employees to wait until age 55 or meet stricter age and service thresholds. The legislation also clarifies definitions for these roles within state and local retirement systems and ensures that individuals killed in the line of duty can access these benefits regardless of their age. Additionally, the bill permits eligible first responders to retire electronically or in writing after meeting the 25-year service requirement, even if they do not retire immediately upon becoming eligible.