SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 1441

Optional Retirement Programs for Public Postsecondary Employees
Send via email
SPONSOR
Dunkley
FILED BY
Lisa Dunkley — District 97, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Government Operations Subcommittee

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Optional Retirement Programs for Public Postsecondary Employees; Revises contribution amounts & how contributions are paid for specified optional retirement programs.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Aligns public postsecondary retirement contributions with state employee rates.

Starting July 1, 2026, public postsecondary employees in optional retirement programs will pay the same employee contribution rate as other state employees. This replaces the previous fixed 8.15 percent employer contribution formula.

Employers will now contribute the exact amount required by state law for other public employees, rather than a calculated difference. This standardizes funding across the state's retirement systems.

The bill also changes how contributions are paid, requiring them to be processed in the same manner as other retirement contributions. This streamlines the administrative process for colleges and the department.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Sunset of Fixed Contribution Rates majors. 121.35(4)(a)

AIReplaces fixed percentage formulas with statutory references, ending the 10.43% and 8.15% contribution structure on June 30, 2026.

“Effective July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2026, each member of the optional retirement program shall contribute an amount equal to the employee contribution required in s. 121.71(3)” bill text, line 35 →
§ 2 New Employer Contribution Standard majors. 121.35(4)(a)

AIMandates that employers contribute the exact amount required by the state retirement system, rather than a calculated difference from a fixed percentage.

“The employer shall contribute an amount equal to the employer contribution required in s. 121.71(4) and (5)” bill text, line 45 →
§ 3 Standardized Payment Mechanism moderates. 121.35(4)(a)

AIRequires contributions to be paid to the designated company in the same manner as other retirement contributions, removing the previous requirement for the department to forward them.

“in the same manner as other retirement contributions” bill text, line 52 →
§ 4 Sunset of Fixed Contribution Rates majors. 1012.875(4)(a)

AIReplaces fixed percentage formulas with statutory references, ending the 10.43% and 8.15% contribution structure on June 30, 2026.

“Effective July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2026, each member shall contribute an amount equal to the employee contribution required under s. 121.71(3)” bill text, line 84 →
§ 5 New Employer Contribution Standard majors. 1012.875(4)(a)

AIMandates that colleges contribute the exact amount required by the state retirement system, rather than a calculated difference from a fixed percentage.

“The employer shall contribute an amount equal to the employer contribution required in s. 121.71(4) and (5)” bill text, line 45 →
§ 6 Standardized Payment Mechanism moderates. 1012.875(4)(a)

AIRequires contributions to be paid directly by the college or through the program administrator in the same manner as other retirement contributions.

“in the same manner as other retirement contributions” bill text, line 52 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Government Operations Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Budget Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/9/2026
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 121.35
+55 / −8
s. 1012.875
+50 / −22