NPPC Highlights
Winners Never Quit: Pension Gains Across the Country
The 2026 legislative sessions brought meaningful retirement security gains for public workers across the country, proving once again that persistent advocacy pays off.
From expanding pension access for educators and public safety employees to reversing harmful benefit cuts, workers and their allies secured victories in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.
Read the latest in Defined Benefit to learn about this year’s pension gains across the country.
State News
Michigan Court Clears Path for Corrections Officers’ Pension Bills to Reach Governor
After more than a year of legal uncertainty, legislation that would improve retirement benefits for Michigan corrections officers has been court-mandated to finally be presented to Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
On July 10, the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from the Republican-led House of Representatives, leaving in place an appellate court ruling requiring the House to transmit nine bills passed by both legislative chambers in December 2024. The court’s decision affirms that presenting approved legislation to the governor is a mandatory and enforceable duty under the Michigan Constitution.
Among the stalled measures are House Bills 4665 and 4666, which would move eligible state corrections officers into the Michigan State Police Retirement System and establish a hybrid pension plan combining a defined benefit with a defined contribution component. The legislation is intended to help address the severe recruitment and retention challenges facing Michigan’s correctional facilities.
NPPC has closely followed the bills since lawmakers approved them at the end of the 2023–2024 legislative session. Despite passing both chambers, the measures were never transmitted to Governor Whitmer before Democrats lost control of the House. When Republicans assumed the majority in January 2025, House Speaker Matt Hall declined to send them, setting off a prolonged legal battle between the House and the Democratic-controlled Senate.
A lower court first determined that the Legislature had a constitutional obligation to present the bills but declined to compel the House to act. The Michigan Court of Appeals later went further, ordering the House to transmit them. That order was paused while the state Supreme Court considered whether to take the case.
By denying the House’s appeal, the Supreme Court allowed the appellate ruling to stand. The nine measures must now be delivered to Governor Whitmer, who will have the opportunity to sign or veto them.
The ruling is an important victory for corrections officers who have spent years advocating for stronger retirement benefits as Michigan struggles to recruit and retain workers in a demanding and dangerous profession.
The fight is not over until the pension bills are signed into law, but after months of delay and multiple court rulings, Michigan corrections officers are one significant step closer to the retirement security they deserve.
Ohio Teachers Push to Restore Worker Representation on STRS Board
Ohio educators are urging state lawmakers to pass bipartisan legislation that would restore elected teachers’ representation on the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio Board (STRS).
Last year, a provision inserted into the state budget changed the composition of the 11-member board by replacing four elected educator representatives with political appointees. If implemented, the change would give appointed members control of the board overseeing approximately $100 billion in retirement assets for more than 550,000 current and retired educators.
Teachers and labor advocates have criticized both the substance of the change and the process through which it was approved. The provision was added during a late-night budget conference committee, without appearing in either chamber’s previously approved version or receiving a public hearing.
House Bill 719 would restore the board’s previous structure and preserve educators’ ability to elect representatives who are directly accountable to plan members.
Republican state Rep. Jim Hoops, the bill’s primary sponsor, emphasized the importance of that direct representation, stating, “Elected board members provide a direct line of accountability to system members.”
The restructuring has not yet taken effect because of an ongoing lawsuit, but lawmakers must pass the corrective legislation before the year ends or begin the process again in 2027. The legislature is currently on summer break and may not return until the post-election lame-duck session.
New Jersey Makes Sixth Consecutive Full Pension Payment
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has signed the state’s $60.7 billion fiscal year 2027 budget, which includes a $7.3 billion contribution to the state pension system.
The payment marks the sixth consecutive year that New Jersey has made its full actuarially determined pension contribution—a significant turnaround after decades in which state leaders routinely skipped or reduced required payments. The administration noted that this year’s contribution alone exceeds the combined pension payments made under several previous governors.
Consistent pension funding strengthens retirement systems, protects benefits earned by public workers, and prevents today’s obligations from becoming more expensive liabilities in the future. New Jersey’s continued commitment demonstrates the progress that can be made when elected leaders treat pension contributions as obligations rather than optional budget items.
Be sure to check back next Friday for the latest news in the fight for a secure retirement! For now, sign up for NPPC News Clips to receive daily pension news from across the country directly to your inbox.