SUCCESS: Gov. Abbott Signs Law to Protect ERS

Gov. Greg Abbott has signed Senate Bill 321, which will invest $1 billion of new money in the Employees Retirement System this biennium — and in future bienniums — and will finally make ERS actuarily sound. 

Thanks to all our members for their dedication and support in making this happen. Here is the public statement from Luther Elmore, President of AFSCME Texas Retirees, Chapter 12.

The essential workers and retirees who have made Texas safer, healthier, and stronger finally have the promise of a stable and secure state pension.

With Gov. Abbott signing Senate Bill 321, Texas’ Employees Retirement System is on its way to financial soundness for the first time in decades — and the state is keeping the commitment it made to its public employees. AFSCME Texas Retirees will work closely with state leaders to ensure that state agencies continue to recruit and retain outstanding employees moving forward, and to ultimately secure the first cost-of-living adjustment for retirees since 2001. 

We thank Sen. Joan Huffman and Rep. Greg Bonnen for sponsoring the legislation, Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for backing it, and Gov. Greg Abbott for signing it. We are also grateful to Comptroller Glenn Hegar for his longstanding support for ERS.