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HB 5499

AN ACT CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON THE REEMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED TEACHERS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Aundré Bumgardner and 8 co-sponsors

HB 5499 would lift limits on retired teachers returning to public schools, reducing pension suspensions and earnings caps, and expanding districts’ access to experienced staff.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Appropriations
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Bill Summary · HB 5499

Summary — HB 5499

Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON THE REEMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED TEACHERS
Bill Number: HB 5499
Subject: Teacher retirement / Reemployment of retired teachers
Status (most recent in record): Referred to Appropriations; passed one chamber (May 16, 2025) and received by the other (May 19–21, 2025)

Purpose / intent

The bill’s stated aim (per the title) is to remove certain statutory limitations that currently restrict the reemployment of retired teachers. In general, such legislation seeks to increase the ability of school districts and other public education employers to hire retired teachers without those hires triggering pension suspensions, earnings caps, or other administrative restrictions that currently govern post‑retirement work.

Key provisions (based on title and legislative history)

The document provided does not include the bill text. The title indicates the bill would do one or more of the following types of changes (please consult the full bill text for precise language):
- Eliminate or relax limitations on the number of hours, duration, or type of employment a retired teacher may accept while receiving retirement benefits.
- Remove or raise postretirement earnings caps that can reduce or suspend pension payments when a retiree returns to public school employment.
- Modify rules about reemployment timing (for example, shortening or removing waiting periods before returning to work).
- Adjust administrative procedures for reporting reemployment and maintaining retirement benefit eligibility.

Note: committee activity shows a committee substitute was considered and reported favorably (April 22 and April 29), indicating the bill was amended in committee.

Who would be affected

  • Retired public school teachers who may wish to return to work (could gain expanded opportunities and income flexibility).
  • Local school districts, charter schools, and regional education agencies (greater access to experienced staff for short‑term or long‑term vacancies).
  • The state teachers’ retirement system (potential actuarial/fiscal impacts depending on how pension payments interact with reemployment).
  • Taxpayers and the state budget if pension liabilities or employer contributions change.

Fiscal and administrative considerations

  • Potential fiscal impact: increased or accelerated pension payments in some scenarios, or changes in employer pension contribution obligations. The exact budgetary effect depends on the bill’s specific provisions and actuarial assumptions.
  • Administrative impact: the retirement system and school employers may need to update policies, reporting systems, and payroll processes.

Procedural status & timeline (selected actions)

  • Filed: March 14, 2025
  • Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures: April 7, 2025
  • Committee substitute considered and reported favorably: April 22 & April 29, 2025
  • Passed (third reading) in originating chamber: May 16, 2025
  • Received by other chamber: May 19, 2025
  • Read first time and referred to Transportation in that chamber: May 21, 2025
  • Listed as referred to Appropriations (Jan. 21 entry in record)

Next steps / how to learn more

  • Consult the official bill text and committee substitute to see the exact changes (state legislature website or bill tracking portal).
  • Review the fiscal note and actuarial analysis (often prepared for retirement‑related bills) for budgetary impacts.
  • Monitor Appropriations and subsequent committee reports for amendments or fiscal recommendations.

If you’d like, I can locate the full bill text and fiscal note and produce a line‑by‑line summary of the actual statutory changes.

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

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