HB 26-1400

House Bill 26-1400 changes how Colorado allocates money to its Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA). Starting from July 1, 2026, instead of distributing funds based on the payroll of each division, PERA will use an actuarial method to maximize contributions and avoid automatic adjustments that kick in when funding levels drop too low. Additionally, it reduces the portion of employer contributions going to the health care trust fund from 1.02% to 0.52%. This bill has been signed into law, meaning these changes will take effect as planned.

Official Summary

Current law requires the state treasurer to issue a warrant in the amount of $225 million to the public employees' retirement association (PERA) on July 1 of each year as a direct distribution (direct distribution) and requires PERA to allocate the direct distribution to the trust funds of each division of PERA as it would an employer contribution, in a manner that is proportionate to the annual payroll of each division, except in certain circumstances. The act changes the allocation of the direct distribution by specifying that, beginning with the direct distribution occurring on July 1, 2026, and on July 1 of each year thereafter, PERA is required to allocate the direct distribution to the trust funds of each division of PERA on an actuarial basis to maximize PERA's blended total contribution amount in a manner that limits, to the extent possible, the triggering of automatic adjustment provisions, which are triggered when PERA's divisions fall below a targeted level of funding. Beginning July 1, 2026, the act prohibits PERA from allocating any portion of the direct distribution to the local government division or the Denver public schools division; except that, beginning July 1, 2030, the Denver public schools division is no longer excluded.     The act also changes the amount of PERA employer contributions that are allocated to the health care trust fund from 1.02% of member salaries to 0.52% of member salaries.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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