WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HSB 266

A bill for an act concerning retirement and employment benefits associated with cancer, and making appropriations.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Expands cancer definitions for PORS, 411, and IPERS to broaden eligibility for accidental disability and death benefits, with added state mandate funding implications.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 969.
#cancer #laborandemployment #retirement
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HSB 266

Summary of HSB 266 (renumbered HF 969)

Overview

HSB 266 is a proposed bill introduced on February 27, 2025, titled “A bill for an act concerning retirement and employment benefits associated with cancer, and making appropriations.” The bill, which received committee approval and was renumbered as HF 969, expands how cancer is defined for certain public retirement systems and broadens eligibility for related disability and death benefits. It also specifies state mandate provisions related to funding and compliance.

What the bill would do

  • Expands the definition of “cancer” for eligibility in retirement and disability programs:

    • For the Peace Officers’ Retirement, Accident, and Disability System (PORS) and the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System (the 411 system), the bill replaces references to specific cancers with a broader, generalized description of cancer.
    • By broadening the cancer definition, more diagnoses would qualify for accidental disability and death benefits for members of PORS or the 411 system who have a cancer diagnosis.
    • By operation of law, the bill also expands the definition of “cancer” as used in Code section 97B.50A for purposes of in-service disability retirement allowances for special service members under the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS).

  • State mandate and funding provisions:

    • The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3.
    • It makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, which would relieve political subdivisions from complying with a state mandate if funding for the mandate is not provided or specified. In effect, political subdivisions would be required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.

Who would be affected

  • Members of:

    • Peace Officers’ Retirement, Accident, and Disability System (PORS)
    • Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System (the 411 system)
    • Special service members under IPERS

  • Public employers and political subdivisions funding and administering benefits, due to mandate-provision implications.

Key provisions and potential impact

  • Eligibility expansion:

    • More cancer diagnoses could qualify for accidental disability and death benefits under PORS and the 411 system.
    • In-service disability retirement allowances for special service members under IPERS could be broadened to cover additional cancer-related scenarios.

  • Financial and administrative effects:

    • Expanded benefits imply potential increases in costs to retirement systems and associated state/municipal funding.
    • Mandatory compliance with any state-mandated provisions included in the bill, even if funding is not specified.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025; referred to State Government.
  • Subcommittee: February 27, 2025; meeting held March 3, 2025 (scheduled March 4) with Kaufmann, Turek, and Wilz.
  • Subcommittee action: Recommended passage (as of March 4, 2025).
  • Committee actions:
    • March 5, 2025: Committee report recommending amendment and passage; vote: Yeas 20, Nays 0, Excused 3.
    • March 20, 2025: Committee report approving the bill and renumbering it HF 969.

Next steps

  • As HF 969, the bill would proceed through additional floor consideration, potential amendments, and, if approved, translation into law pending final passage and signing. Details on exact effective dates and appropriation amounts would be determined during further legislative action.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.