SB 11: Retirement; creditable service for certain military service; provide

Georgia law currently reserves a section of the retirement code (O.C.G.A. § 47-2-95) without any active provisions for military service credit. This bill fills in that section, allowing a retirement system member who already has at least ten years of membership service to buy up to 36 months of creditable service for active duty military service in the U.S. armed forces performed on or after January 1, 1990. To get the credit, a member must apply the way the board of trustees requires, submit proof of qualifying service, and pay the full actuarial cost as determined by the board. Members can pay in one lump sum within 90 days or use an existing payment plan. The credit is denied if the person was not honorably discharged, if the service was reserve duty, if membership service already covers that time, or if the military service is already counted toward another state or federal retirement benefit. The law only takes effect July 1, 2026 if state actuaries confirm it is properly funded; otherwise it repeals itself automatically that day.

• Creates a new option for members with at least ten years of service credit to purchase up to 36 months of retirement credit for active military service since January 1, 1990.
• Requires members to apply, prove qualifying military service, and pay the full actuarial cost of the credit, as set by the board of trustees.
• Lets members pay for the credit either as a lump sum within 90 days or through an existing installment payment plan.
• Blocks the credit if the discharge was not honorable, the service was reserve duty, the time is already covered by membership service, or it counts toward another retirement program.
• Makes the whole Act contingent on state funding certification, taking effect July 1, 2026 only if funded, and automatically repealing itself that date otherwise.

Members of Georgia's state Employees' Retirement System who served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces since 1990, particularly those with at least ten years of membership service; the system's board of trustees, which must set application procedures and cost calculations; and state actuaries who must certify funding.

Veterans working in Georgia state government could add up to three years toward their pension calculations by paying the actuarial cost, potentially increasing retirement benefits or moving up eligibility. The change only becomes real if state officials confirm it is fully funded, so its actual effect depends on that certification.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 47-2-95, previously reserved with no text, to create the military service credit program.
• Subsection (a) limits the credit to members with 10+ years of membership service and caps it at 36 months of service after January 1, 1990.
• Subsection (b) lists application steps: filing an application, submitting proof of service, and paying the full actuarial cost set by the board.
• Subsection (d) allows either a lump-sum payment within 90 days or a payment plan under the same terms as Code Section 47-2-101(e).
• Subsection (e) lists four disqualifying conditions, including dishonorable discharge and reserve-only duty.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective July 1, 2026 only if funding is certified under the Public Retirement Systems Standards Law, otherwise it repeals automatically that date.

1. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-09House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-06Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
4. 2026-03-06Senate Third Read (Senate)
5. 2026-03-06Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
6. 2026-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
7. 2026-02-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-02-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)Primary sponsor
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #690

• public employee retirement
• military service credit
• veterans benefits
• state pension law