Agenda - Council Work Session - 08/25/2026

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Bill Summary 2026 Pension and Retirement Omnibus Bill (Chapter 106; HF 4074, 3rd Engr.) Article 11 consists of one section that amends section 352.98, subdivision 3, which applies to the Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP) administered by MSRS. Section 1 amends the requirement in subdivision 3 that contributions must be defined in a personnel policy or collective bargaining agreement. As alternatives to a personnel policy or CBA, the amendment allows contributions to be defined in a "participation plan, or resolution of the governing body." The new language is intended to permit elected officials who may not be covered by a personnel policy or collective bargaining agreement to participate in the Health Care Savings Plan by resolution of a political subdivision's governing body, such as in the case of county commissioners who will be able to participate in the HCSP if the county board approves a resolution authorizing contributions to the HCSP. Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. Article 12: Work Groups Source: SF 4766 (Seeberger)/HF 4723 (Johnson), as amended by S4766-DE1 SF 4464 (Howe)/HF 4988 (Novotny), as amended by 54464-DE4 Senate Amendment SCS4276A-5/House Amendment H4074A9 Article 12 establishes two work groups that are required to meet during the interim between the 2026 and 2027 legislative sessions to recommend legislation on two different topics. Section 1 establishes the Work Group on Vesting and Emergency Medical Providers in Firefighter Relief Associations and the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan. The work group is to recommend legislation that would: • shorten the vesting schedule for firefighter relief associations to a maximum of ten years; • require that firefighter relief associations include volunteer or paid on -call emergency medical providers as members on the same basis as volunteer or paid on -call firefighters; and • make the same changes to the PERA Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan as are recommended for firefighter relief associations. The work group, which will consist of representatives from 8 organizations and agencies, must report its recommendations, with proposed legislation, to the Commission by January 29, 2027, or, if later, the date all members of the Commission have been appointed for the 2027-2028 biennium. Section 2 establishes the Work Group on Duty Disability and the Public Safety Officer's Benefit Account. The work group is to recommend legislation that would: • reform duty disability for members of the public employees police and fire plan; and • ensure that members of the police and fire plan who become duty disabled have access to affordable health insurance coverage until Medicare eligibility. The work group will consist of representatives from 15 organizations and agencies, as well as legislators who are appointed by caucus leadership. Legislation recommended by the work group must address 7 topics, including the impending shortfall in the public safety officer's benefit account and reforming the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement Page 19