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HB 85

Reinstating former employer contributions for JRS, HPORS, SRS, GWPORS

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marta Bertoglio

Montana reinstates employer pension contributions to four public retirement systems, increasing long-term state funding obligations for employee benefit security.

Chapter Number Assigned
#publicofficersandemployees #retirement(seealso:seniorcitizens)
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Bill Summary · HB 85

Legislative bill overview

HB 85 reinstates employer contributions to four Montana public employee pension systems: the Judicial Retirement System (JRS), Highway Patrol Officers Retirement System (HPORS), School Retirement System (SRS), and Governors and Wildlife Protection Officers Retirement System (GWPORS). The bill restores funding levels that were previously reduced or eliminated, requiring employers to resume paying specified percentages into these retirement accounts.

Why is this important

Public pension systems depend on three-legged funding: employee contributions, investment returns, and employer contributions. When employer contributions are reduced, it either increases the burden on current employees, reduces retirement security, or creates unfunded liabilities for future taxpayers. This bill directly affects the long-term solvency of Montana's public employee retirement programs and impacts both current retirees and future workers.

Potential points of contention

  • Budget impact: Reinstating employer contributions represents a recurring state budget obligation that must be funded through taxes or reallocation from other programs
  • Historical context: The bill reverses previous cost-containment measures, raising questions about whether the original reductions were temporary or structural
  • Equity across systems: The bill addresses four specific systems but not others, which may create questions about whether all public employee pension systems receive equitable treatment

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

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