Georgia CommonsSenate · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 11: Retirement; creditable service for certain military service; provide
Last action March 10, 2026 · House Second Readers
A Georgia Senate bill would let members of the state Employees' Retirement System buy up to three years of extra retirement credit for active military service performed since 1990, if they pay the full cost.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Engrossed version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
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.
What the bill does
- 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.
Who it affects
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.
Why it matters
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.
Key provisions
- 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.
From the bill
“A member with at least ten years of membership service may obtain up to 36 months of creditable service to be awarded month for month for active military service in the armed forces of the United States performed on or after January 1, 1990.”
“Pay to the board of trustees an amount determined by such board to be equal to the full actuarial cost of such creditable service.”
Discussed in meetings (7)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Retirement Committee, February 17, 2026
From 0:19:25 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 11 would allow honorably discharged veterans with 10 years of state employment to buy up to 36 months of retirement credit for military service. The sponsor said employees would pay the full cost, either in a lump sum or installments, and that fiscal and actuarial reviews found no cost to the state. The sponsor said the measure could help recruit and retain veterans. No members asked substantive questions. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
Senate Rules Committee, March 5, 2026
From 0:36:26 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 11 would let veterans with 10 years of state employment purchase one, two or three years of retirement credit at full cost. The sponsor said fiscal and actuarial reviews showed no cost to the state and argued that the proposal would help recruit and retain veterans. The chair noted its review in the Retirement Committee. The committee unanimously included the bill in the floor-calendar package.
Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 2)
From 4:49:47 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Taken from Table)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would let honorably discharged veterans with 10 years of Georgia state employment purchase one to three years of military service credit in the Employees’ Retirement System. The sponsor said participating members would pay the full cost and cited a fiscal note, an actuarial review, and the retirement system’s executive director as finding no additional cost to the system. The sponsor argued that the change would help recruit and retain veterans as state employees. No questions or opposing speeches followed. The Senate passed the bill, 47-0.
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20), 0:30:54
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 0:35:52
- Read aloud: House floor session, March 9, 2026 (legislative day 29), 0:49:22
- Read aloud: House floor session, March 10, 2026 (legislative day 30), 0:41:09
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
Show full history (10 actions)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Michael 'Doc' Rhett (D, SD-33)
- Ed Harbison (D, SD-15)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
- Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
- Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
- Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
- Shawn Still (R, SD-48)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
- Ed Setzler (R, SD-37)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 6, 2026
47 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 7 excused)
Topics
- public employee retirement
- military service credit
- veterans benefits
- state pension law