Georgia CommonsSenate · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 157: Retirement; certain members or former members of the General Assembly to buy into the Georgia Legislative Retirement System; provide
Last action March 9, 2026 · House Second Readers
A Georgia Senate bill would let current or former state legislators who served at least four years but never joined the Georgia Legislative Retirement System buy their way into it by paying the full cost of that past service.
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
Under current law, a member of the General Assembly who never joined the Georgia Legislative Retirement System has no way to later get credit for years already served. This bill changes that by amending O.C.G.A. § 47-6-40 to let a current or former legislator who served at least four years or two full terms make an irrevocable election to join the retirement system and buy creditable service for that past time. The legislator must apply to the system's board of trustees and pay the full actuarial cost the board calculates, meaning the payment is set to cover the system's expense rather than be subsidized. The Employees' Retirement System must send a one-time written notice by September 1, 2026, to eligible members and former members telling them they qualify and stating the exact amount owed. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, only if state actuaries certify it is funded under Georgia's Public Retirement Systems Standards Law; otherwise it is automatically repealed that same date.
What the bill does
- Lets a current or former member of the General Assembly who served at least four years or two full terms buy creditable service in the Georgia Legislative Retirement System.
- Requires the buying member to pay the full actuarial cost of the added service, as determined by the system's board of trustees, at the time of application.
- Bars anyone who already gets credit for that same service under another public retirement system from also claiming it here.
- Requires the Employees' Retirement System to mail a one-time notice by September 1, 2026 to eligible members and former members explaining their eligibility and the exact cost.
- Sets different monthly pension calculations depending on whether the legislator's service ended before or after January 1, 2022.
- Makes the whole Act effective July 1, 2026 only if certified as funded under state law, and automatically repeals it that date if not funded.
Who it affects
Current and former Georgia state senators and representatives who served at least four years or two full terms but never joined the Georgia Legislative Retirement System, as well as the Employees' Retirement System, which must administer notices and applications and calculate payment amounts.
Why it matters
Legislators who missed joining the retirement system during their service would get a one-time chance to buy in and secure a pension based on past years, as long as they pay the full cost themselves. The change depends on state actuarial funding certification before it can take effect.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds a new subsection (e) to O.C.G.A. § 47-6-40 allowing eligible members or former members to make an irrevocable election to join the retirement system and obtain creditable service for prior legislative service.
- Eligibility requires at least four years or two full terms served, never having been a member of the Georgia Legislative Retirement System, a formal application, and payment of the full actuarial cost.
- Creditable service cannot be granted if the same service already counts toward another public retirement system under Title 47.
- By September 1, 2026, the Employees' Retirement System must mail a one-time written notice to all eligible members stating their eligibility and the exact payment amount owed.
- Members whose service ended before January 1, 2022 receive the pension amount set in O.C.G.A. § 47-6-80(d); those whose service ended on or after that date receive the amount set in § 47-6-80(c.1).
- Section 2 makes the Act effective July 1, 2026 only if certified as funded under the Public Retirement Systems Standards Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 20 of Title 47), otherwise it is automatically repealed that date.
From the bill
“Pay to the board of trustees an amount determined by the board of trustees to be sufficient to cover the full actuarial cost of granting the creditable service as provided in this Code section.”
“Advise the member that he or she is eligible to retroactively become a member of the Georgia Legislative Retirement System for past years or past terms served”
Discussed in meetings (10)
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 10, 2026
From 0:09:55 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 157 would allow eligible current and former legislators who had not joined the Legislative Retirement System to buy into it and receive credit for prior service. The sponsor said an actuarial study found no financial impact. One committee member questioned how adding beneficiaries could have no cost and why someone would buy in if the payment covered the full cost. The sponsor explained that participants would pay into the system. A second member explained that the calculation considers expected benefit use and the present value of future payments, so buying in could benefit an individual without adding an overall cost. Asked why the bill referred to four years or two terms when benefits require eight years, the sponsor said someone could buy credit for earlier service and become vested after eight total years. Another member cited supporting material stating that 222 of 236 active legislators were enrolled, while members clarified that enrollment does not necessarily mean eligibility for benefits. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
Senate Rules Committee, February 17, 2026
From 0:07:10 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 157 would allow someone who served two full legislative terms without joining the legislative retirement system, and later returned to the legislature, to buy into the system before age 60. No substantive questions or calendar action followed.
Senate Rules Committee, February 19, 2026
From 0:08:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 157 would let returning legislators buy into the legislative retirement system if they previously served two terms without joining it. The sponsor described eligibility after eight years of service. No questions or vote followed.
Senate Rules Committee, February 20, 2026
From 0:07:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 157 would allow a returning legislator who had previously served without joining the legislative retirement system to buy into it. The sponsor described the purchase as dollar for dollar and said it would cost the state nothing. No questions or calendar action followed.
Senate Rules Committee, February 24, 2026
From 0:19:14 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would allow legislators who did not initially enroll in the legislative retirement system, served four years and later returned to the legislature to buy into the system. The brief presentation did not explain the purchase terms. No questions or vote followed.
Senate Rules Committee, February 25, 2026
From 0:20:24 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would allow legislators who did not join the legislative retirement system after four years of service, then left and returned to the legislature, to buy into the system. No questions followed, and the bill was not selected for the floor calendar.
Senate floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27)
From 5:26:02 · 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 157 would allow qualifying legislators who had not joined the legislative retirement system during earlier service to purchase credit for that time. The sponsor described legislators returning after a break in service and said participants would pay the money themselves. The clerk said an actuarial investigation and auditor certification were attached. No questions or opposing speeches followed. The Senate passed the bill 49-1.
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
- Max Burns (R, SD-23)
- Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
- Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 4, 2026
49 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 4 excused)
Topics
- legislative retirement
- state pensions
- General Assembly benefits
- public retirement systems