SB 143: Georgia Firefighter's Pension Fund; certain members to retire at age 50; provide

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Discussed in meetings (13)

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.

1. Senate Retirement Committee, February 3, 2026

   From 0:21:18 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would address firefighter staffing shortages by allowing experienced firefighters to retire and return to work while receiving pension benefits, without continuing to contribute to the same retirement system. The sponsor described eligibility as requiring at least age 50 and a combined age and years of service totaling 80. The sponsor said the fund receives member payments and insurance-related revenue, not state tax dollars. The fund's director said it was about 90% funded, assumed a 5.75% investment return and could afford the change. Asked about safeguards, the director said the fund's policy requires benefit increases to leave it at least 80% funded and meeting its required annual contribution, and this proposal met those standards. The sponsor requested removal of section four, concerning alternative investments, because it had already become law. A member asked whether amending the bill after its financial study created a procedural problem. The sponsor said an updated study addressed the change, and committee counsel indicated agreement. Members adopted the amendment and then approved the amended bill by voice vote, with no opposition heard. A briefly suggested date change was withdrawn.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 12, 2026

   From 0:06:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 143 would allow Firefighter Pension Fund members to retire and return to work without continuing to earn additional retirement benefits. The sponsor described the proposal as a way to bring experienced firefighters back during a staffing shortage and said the fund uses no state tax dollars. No questions were asked. Later, the committee unanimously selected the bill for the Senate calendar along with two other proposals.

3. Senate floor session, February 17, 2026 (legislative day 19)

   From 2:38:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 143 would let qualifying firefighters retire at age 50 with a combined age and service total of 80, allow retirees to return to fire service, and permit up to 10% of the pension fund to be invested in below-investment-grade bonds. The sponsor said these changes would address staffing shortages and that member payments and insurance premiums, not state tax dollars, fund the pension. Several senators questioned investment risk. The sponsor confirmed the bond allowance would be additional to the existing 20% allowance for alternative investments, applied only to bonds, and was optional for fund managers. The sponsor said 49 other states allowed such investments and cited higher historical returns, but did not know their investment limits. Another senator opposed the bill, arguing that earlier retirement and working retirees no longer paying dues could strain funding while riskier bonds could threaten stability. The sponsor said fund managers and firefighter organizations requested the changes. The Senate adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 47 to 3. After a partisan exchange, another senator emphasized the broad support, and the chair repeated the vote.

4. House Retirement Committee, March 24, 2026

   From 0:30:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute allowing firefighters to qualify for retirement at age 50 with 30 years of service and receive pensions while continuing paid fire service. The sponsor cited physical and mental strain, staffing shortages and the need to retain experience. A fund representative explained a provision allowing up to 10% of assets in below-investment-grade debt, describing it as another investment option, with no immediate plans to use it. One member questioned investment risks and said the bill would add $61 million in liabilities. The representative distinguished publicly traded debt from private credit and acknowledged investment risk. Members and the chair questioned whether continuing work without a break could create federal tax problems. The sponsor and fund representative believed the supplemental plan could accommodate it, but further legal review remained underway. The representative said the board was neutral on the benefit expansion and that it added benefits without corresponding revenue. A Georgia State Firefighters Association witness reported roughly 65 firefighters for 81 full-time positions in Spalding County and seven nearing 30 years of service. A retired-firefighter legislator supported retaining experienced workers. Another retired firefighter described being unable to accept paid fire-service work while drawing a pension. The chair called for continued discussions. No amendment or vote followed.

5. House Retirement Committee, March 30, 2026

   From 0:30:53 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented a substitute keeping the benefit age at 55, allowing firefighters to receive benefits without leaving paid or volunteer service, and retaining a benefit provision for those leaving after 15 years. The chair said legal and tax review supported allowing continued service. The substitute also incorporated tax court retirement language from HB 818. The sponsor objected to replacing age 50 with 55, saying firefighters often start at 18 or 19 and face substantial physical and mental strain. The sponsor cited projected funding of 83% on an actuarial basis and 87% using fair market value under the proposal, compared with 77.9% funding for the teachers’ plan. A fire-service witness warned that experienced firefighters aged 52 or 53 might leave rather than wait until 55 and requested an age between 50 and 55. The chair said another change would require redrafting and renewed financial review, making passage this session harder. Another legislator supported retaining experienced firefighters to guide younger personnel. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

6. House floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 2)

   From 2:50:37 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 4023

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said the bill allowed firefighters to collect their Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund benefits while continuing to work, including returning from metro departments to serve smaller communities. The presenter said retirement at 50 would still carry an early-retirement penalty, while full benefits remained available at 55. An added section moved Tax Court judges from the Employees' Retirement System to the Judicial Retirement System. One member said that language had previously passed the House. Asked whether continued work would strain the pension fund, the presenter said the fund was strong, the proposal had been reviewed for two years and no added strain was expected. A supporting member said Henry County firefighters had requested the change and argued that firefighters should not have to choose between earned benefits and continued service. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill, 168 to 0.

7. House Rules Committee, March 31, 2026

   From 0:23:54 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3953

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said current law allows retirement benefits beginning at age 55 after 25 years of service. The presenter explained that the bill would allow firefighters to continue working in their local fire service while receiving benefits from the supplemental annuity fund. The presenter also said the bill incorporated HB 818, moving the tax court judge's defined-benefit pension from ERS to TRS. No questions were asked. Later, the committee placed SB 143 on the supplemental floor calendar without stated opposition.

8. Senate floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, part 1)

   From 5:55:42 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor asked the Senate to accept the House substitute to SB 143. The sponsor described firefighter pension changes involving retirement at age 55 and said the supplemental fund used no tax dollars. The sponsor argued the changes would help experienced firefighters continue working and improve community safety. The sponsor also said an added section would allow the Georgia Tax Court to move from the Employees' Retirement System to the Judicial Retirement System. A committee member asked whether the measure would help return otherwise retiring firefighters to service, and the sponsor agreed. The Senate accepted the House substitute 52 to 1.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13), 0:26:37
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 6, 2026 (legislative day 14), 0:38:57
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20), 0:30:50
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 0:54:16
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 1), 0:25:30

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