Recent Legislation Related to Retirement

Information and guidance on recently enacted legislation affecting public retirement benefits in Massachusetts.

Anti-Spiking

• Memo #21 | New Anti-Spiking Exemptions
• Memo #26 | The Application of the Anti-Spiking Provision in the wake of the Hartnett Decision
• Chapter 141 of the Acts of 2024

COLA Reserve Fund and Enhanced COLA

• Memo #23, 2026 | COLA Reserve Fund and Enhanced COLA
  • Cycle of Activity - State and Teachers
  • Cycle of Activity - Local Systems
• Chapter 137 of the Acts of 2026 (sections 22-27 & 32-38)
  • Text for Sections 22-27
  • Text for Sections 32-38

HERO Act | Veterans' Buyback

• Memo #23 | Veterans' Buyback Changes
• HERO Act | Veterans' Buyback webinar
• Q&A from Veterans' Buyback webinar
• Veterans' Buyback Form
• Presentation from Veterans' Buyback webinar
• Chapter 178 of the Acts of 2024

Judicial Veterans' Buyback

• Chapter 137 of the Acts of 2026 (Section 29)
  • Text for Section 29

Open Meeting Law Waiver

• PERAC Memo #13: Extension of Open Meeting Law Waivers

Post Retirement Work Limitations

• Memo #21, 2026 | Updated Calculation Figures for Post-Retirement Work Under Section 91 and Section 91A
• Memo #22, 2024 | New Standard for Calculating Public Sector Post-Retirement Work Limitations

Return to Service

• Memo #27: Changes to Return to Service
• Return to Service
  Sections 68-70 of the State Budget 

Violent Assault Legislation

• PERAC Memo #33: Violent Act Injury Disability – Recent Legislative Changes
• Memo #28: Violent Assault Disability
• Chapter 149 of the Acts of 2024
  An Act Relative to Disability Pensions and Critical Incident Stress Management for Violent Crimes

Other Resources

• Emerging Issues Forum Legislative Update presentation
• Legislative Update Webinar - webinar recording added