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HB 2711

Relating to the repeal of the common law rule against perpetuities by extending it to 1,000 years for all trusts

2025 Regular Session Introduced by J.B. Akers and 4 co-sponsors

Illinois HB 2711 expands Tier 2 pensions across multiple systems, boosting COLAs, widening salary bases, and adding reciprocity for portable benefits.

Chapter 60, Acts, Regular Session, 2025
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Bill Summary · HB 2711

Summary — HB 2711 (PEN CD — Tier 2 Benefits)

Note up front: the document provided includes material from two different bills titled HB 2711 in different states — (1) an Arizona bill about “silent witness” program records (sponsored by Rep. Walt Blackman) and (2) an Illinois omnibus pensions bill changing Tier 2 benefits (sponsored in the Illinois House by Rep. Michael J. Kelly). Because your requested title is “PEN CD‑TIER 2 BENEFITS,” the summary below focuses on the Illinois Pension Code changes (the Tier 2 benefits bill). At the end I briefly note the unrelated Arizona provision that appeared in the packet.

Purpose / Intent

The Illinois bill proposes broad amendments to the Illinois Pension Code intended to modify and in many places expand Tier 2 pension benefits across multiple retirement Articles. The changes affect automatic increases (COLAs), salary caps used for annuity calculations, final average salary formulas, retirement age rules, new benefit options, coverage/reciprocity rules, and minimum pension protections for several public‑safety and public‑employee systems.

Key provisions (high level)

  • Automatic annual increase (COLA)
    • Sets or changes the automatic annual increase to 3% (expressed as either 3% of the originally granted retirement annuity or 3% of the retirement annuity then being paid) for the General Assembly and Judges Articles.
  • Salary cap for annuity purposes
    • Changes the limit on salary counted for annuity purposes to the Social Security wage base (i.e., ties maximum pensionable salary to the Social Security taxable wage limit).
  • Final average salary & retirement age
    • For persons who are active members on or after January 1, 2026, final average salary is recalculated using the Tier 1 method (generally a more favorable calculation).
    • Retirement age provisions for Tier 2 members are altered (text indicates changes to retirement age; the exact new ages depend on affected Article language).
  • Accelerated pension benefit option
    • Establishes an “accelerated pension benefit payment” option applicable to the General Assembly, Chicago Teachers, and Judges Articles.
  • Alternative annuity calculations for certain employees
    • Provides that, for Tier 2 persons, specified security staff (DHS, DOC, DJJ), a Department of the Lottery investigator, and State highway workers may be entitled to annuities computed under alternative State Employee Article provisions.
  • Service conversion and reciprocity
    • Authorizes conversion of service to eligible creditable service.
    • Adopts the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act for Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, Chicago Police, and Chicago Firefighter Articles (improves portability/coordination across systems).
  • SLEP / IMRF status & firefighter definitions
    • Authorizes SLEP status under IMRF for county correctional/probation officers and for IMRF participants who qualify as firefighters under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act.
    • Expands the Downstate Firefighter Article to include “de facto firefighter” (defines and treats them as firefighters for benefits).
  • Disability and minimum pension increases
    • Provides that a firefighter receiving a disability pension shall receive a 3% increase of the original monthly pension.
    • Revises minimum retirement annuities and minimum disability and surviving spouse pensions for firefighters.
  • Other technical and conforming changes across many Articles (multiple new and amended section numbers listed).

Who is affected

  • Tier 2 public employees across multiple Illinois retirement systems: General Assembly, Judges, Chicago Teachers, State employees, Downstate/Chicago police and firefighters, Downstate firefighters, county correctional officers, probation officers, IMRF participants who qualify as firefighters, and certain security and investigator employees named in the bill.
  • Employers (State and local governments) — pension liabilities and employer contribution requirements may be affected.
  • Retirees and active members whose retirement formulas, COLAs, or minimums are changed.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • The synopsis and text indicate immediate effectiveness (“effective immediately”).
  • The bill amends many sections (lists specific section numbers and adds new sections across the Illinois Pension Code).
  • The bill amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State — meaning mandated costs to local governments would not be reimbursed by the State.
  • Companion/related senate bill: SB 2069 (listed as companion).

Likely impacts / considerations

  • These changes generally increase benefit generosity (larger COLAs, broader pensionable salary base, more favorable final average salary calculation for some members), which would tend to increase future pension liabilities and employer contribution needs unless offset by other reforms or contributions.
  • Extending reciprocity and alternative annuity options improves portability and options for certain employees but may also shift costs between systems.
  • The “no reimbursement” mandate could create unfunded costs for local employers (municipalities, school districts, etc.).

Note about the Arizona “silent witness” text found in the packet

The packet also contains an Arizona House bill (HB2711) introduced by Rep. Walt Blackman revising Arizona Revised Statutes §12‑2312 to make communications to “silent witness / crime stopper” programs nonpublic, with limited court‑ordered disclosure through in‑camera review in criminal or certain civil proceedings. That is a separate measure and not part of the Illinois Pension Code amendments described above.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a side‑by‑side list of exact statutory sections changed and the before/after language for the Illinois bill, or
- Summarize the Arizona silent‑witness bill in the same level of detail.

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

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