State Legislative Updates

2027 Legislative Priorities

Protecting the future of Texas education retirees

The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is an ardent defender of the traditional Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) defined benefit plan. Since 1953, TRTA's founding and fundamental position has been that the most cost-effective and reliable form of retirement security for our retired educators is the defined benefit plan. TRTA stands firmly behind this belief and will oppose any efforts to close, convert, or weaken the TRS defined benefit plan.

Our Priorities

1. Restore TRS to Actuarial Soundness

HB 2 salary increases in 2025 created $5 billion in TRS unfunded liabilities, pushing the actuarial funding period to 35 years.

TRTA supported the educator pay raises, but the Legislature did not fund the actuarial impact. Without this fix, the fund's long-term health is at risk and permanent cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) remain out of reach. When the system's funding is out of alignment, it is the TRS retiree who pays by suffering from inflation.

2. Deliver a Meaningful Benefit Enhancement

Texas education retirees manage their retirement security on very modest fixed pensions that inflation is quietly destroying. The 2023 enhancements were a powerful statement of respect. On average, TRS retirees are 30% behind inflation. We must take another step forward. This session the Legislature needs to pass a state-funded stipend, COLA, or 13th check. All options on the table for decision-makers!

3. Fund TRS-Care

More than 215,000 retirees depend on TRS-Care for their health coverage. TRTA supports full biennial funding at statutory rates, affordable premiums, and a focus on using health care dollars effectively to benefit TRS-Care participants and provide consistent, high quality health care, including rehabilitation services.

TRTA — Advocating for Texas education retirees since 1953

A digital copy of this document is available at: www.trta.org/legislative-priorities