SB 1527 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the administration of, contributions to, and benefits under the public retirement systems for police and firefighters in certain municipalities.

SB 1527 modifies how Texas municipalities administer retirement systems for police and firefighters. It requires cities to make biweekly contributions based on a specific actuarial formula (using a 30-year amortization schedule for pension fund shortfalls) and mandates city council and board approval for actions that could increase pension liabilities, such as benefit changes or lawsuits. The bill directly affects municipal retirement systems serving these public safety workers in participating Texas cities. Key provisions include invalidating prior plan rules and requiring compliance with state government code for pension administration. The bill focuses on administrative changes to retirement fund contributions and oversight, not new benefits or eligibility.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 21, 2025 Last action Apr 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 8 edits · Mar 31, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was reformatted from an introduced draft to an engrossed version, incorporating substantive amendments to Texas retirement system laws. Key changes include updating contribution rate definitions, establishing new administrative requirements for pension system compliance, and adding detailed funding schedules with specific dollar amounts and percentage thresholds through fiscal year 2054. The bill also introduces reconciliation procedures for contribution rates and sets expiration dates for certain provisions.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on public retirement systems for police and firefighters in certain municipalities, but the applicability was extended with new detailed funding schedules and contribution rate requirements through fiscal year 2054.
DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'Actuarially determined contribution rate' specifying it must be expressed as a percentage of members' projected aggregate computation pay and determined in accordance with Section 4.02.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 2.026 requiring pension systems to comply with Chapter 802 of the Government Code and declaring any plans adopted under former Section 2.025 as unenforceable.

Added Section 3.014 requiring board and city council approval for actions that increase pension system liabilities, including lawsuit settlements, benefit increases, and actuarial assumption changes.

Added reconciliation procedures in Section 4.02(e-1) requiring 30-day reconciliation periods when actuarial contribution rate recommendations differ by more than three percent.

FISCAL

Added detailed fixed dollar schedule for unfunded actuarial accrued liability and administrative expenses from fiscal years 2025 through 2054, with amounts ranging from approximately $161 million to $438 million.

Modified Section 4.02 to include new contribution rate calculation methods with minimum and maximum percentage thresholds ranging from 0.96% to 11.39% depending on the plan year.

Added new biweekly pay period contribution amounts ranging from $5,173,000 to $6,043,000 for periods through December 31, 2024, with $0 thereafter.

TIMELINE

Added expiration date of October 1, 2029 for certain contribution amount limitations in Sections (h) and (h-1).

Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2025

How they voted

245
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 30
Mar 31, 2025
D Democratic10
10 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
14 Yea 5 Nay 1
70% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Apr 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Finance
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Royce West
Royce West
DDemocratic
TX
23