Summary of HF47-23 (2025-2026) – Minnesota retirement provisions for public employees
A. Purpose and intent
- HF 4723 proposes to modify retirement provisions to expand eligibility and benefits to emergency medical providers, broaden coverage under firefighters relief associations, and require related bylaw updates.
- The bill adds emergency medical providers to the participants eligible for the public employees defined contribution plan and to the firefighters relief association retirement plan, with associated certification and service-credit rules. It also requires all relief associations to amend bylaws to reflect these changes by Jan 1, 2027.
B. Key provisions and changes
1) Expansion of eligibility (353D.01, subdivision 2)
- Adds emergency medical providers (per 424A.001, subdivision 13) as eligible participants in the public employees defined contribution plan.
- Expands eligibility to include additional emergency medical providers alongside other listed groups (local officials, physicians, EMS personnel, rescue squad members, port authority staff, certain city managers, etc.).
- Clarifies that individuals already covered by another pension plan remain ineligible for participation in this defined contribution plan.
2) Plan participation for firefighters and EMS providers (353D.02, subd. 7; 353D.03, subd. 6)
- Creates a framework allowing volunteer or paid-on-call firefighters and emergency medical providers to elect participation in the public employees defined contribution plan (within specified timelines after starting service). The election is irrevocable, and employer contributions are contingent on ratification by the relevant governing body.
- Sets a framework for concurrent participation: EMS providers may participate in both the public defined contribution plan and a relief association retirement plan.
3) Employer and employee contributions (353D.03, subd. 6)
-.Volunteer or emergency on-call firefighters and EMS providers must contribute at least 7.5% of compensation for firefighting services, unless the municipality or firefighting corporation ratifies plan coverage, in which case total contributions equal at least 7.5%.
4) Official definitions and service credit (Sec. 4–5; 424A.001, 424A.003)
- Defines “Emergency medical provider” with duties relating to emergency medical response.
- Requires annual service-credit certification by fire chiefs for volunteers, paid on-call, and EMS providers. Certification must detail months of service and be reviewable by the member.
- Introduces certification of past service for EMS providers previously ineligible under bylaws, allowing retroactive credit as if eligible, with conditions applied similarly to volunteer firefighters.
- Establishes rules for military service credits consistent with federal law (USERRA), with forfeiture rules if the member does not return as required.
5) Bylaw amendments and governance (Sec. 7; 424A.012)
- Requires relief associations to amend bylaws to incorporate these changes, including service-credit treatment for EMS providers.
- Sets a deadline: by January 1, 2027, all relief associations must amend bylaws to reflect 424A.01, 424A.012 provisions.
- Service credit for EMS providers to be counted toward vesting, active service, and pension calculations.
C. Affected entities
- Emergency medical providers (EMTs, paramedics, and similar responders) as new entrants to both defined contribution plans and firefighting relief associations.
- Fire departments, independent nonprofit firefighting corporations, and joint powers entities that operate relief associations.
- Municipalities and firefighting governing bodies responsible for ratification and bylaw updates.
D. Procedural and timeline aspects
- Effective date: Sections 1–8 become law the day after final enactment.
- Bylaw amendments: Mandatory by January 1, 2027.
- Certification processes: Fire chiefs must certify and notify members by specified deadlines (e.g., March 31 for prior year service credit; August 1, 2026 for past EMS service certification).
E. Notes
- The bill emphasizes adding EMS providers to retirement-related eligibility and ensuring consistent, auditable service-credit treatment.
- It preserves existing governance structures while expanding benefits and responsibilities through defined contribution participation and relief association bylaws.
