Three bills related to RSA 100-A were passed by the New Hampshire Legislature during the 2024 session and have been signed by Governor Sununu. RSA 100-A is the statute governing the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS, the retirement system).

Pursuant to RSA 100-A:14, XII, NHRS issues a notice to participating employers at the beginning of the legislative session about legislation that may have a cost impact on political subdivision employers. Under the same statute, NHRS notifies employers if legislation with a cost impact is ultimately adopted. 

Two of the three NHRS-related bills passed this year have a potential cost impact on future employer contribution rates:

1. HB 1559 establishes a new retirement system disability benefit for Group II (Police and Fire) members injured in the line of duty due to a purposeful, violent attack by means of a deadly weapon. In addition, the bill gives members who retired under accidental disability on or after July 1, 2018, ninety (90) days from the effective date of the law (July 1, 2024) to file an application for violent accidental disability benefits.

This bill did not include any appropriation to fund the benefit; There may be indeterminable costs associated with the benefit that would be reflected in future employer contribution rates.

The full text of HB 1559 is available at:  https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=1290

2. HB 1647 increases the benefit multiplier for Group II, Tier B members to 2.5% for all years after the first 15 years of Group II service for members who retire under service or ordinary disability retirement on or after July 1, 2024. The first 15 years of Group II service will continue to accrue a multiplier of 2.4% to 2.1%, depending on how many years of service the member had on January 1, 2012. Tier B consists of members hired on or before July 1, 2011, but not vested prior to January 1, 2012.

The bill includes a $26 million state appropriation toward the unfunded actuarial accrued liability associated with this change. There are future normal costs for this bill that will be reflected in employer contribution rates beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2028.

The full text of HB 1647 is available at: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=2242&inflect=2

The third NHRS-related bill, HB 1307, provides a one-time $500 “supplemental allowance” payable during the 2025 fiscal year to eligible accidental disability annuitants. The cost of this benefit was fully funded by the state by a one-time appropriation.

In 2024, 14 bills related to RSA 100-A were introduced. An additional seven bills retained from 2023 were also considered in 2024. For a list of all 2024 NHRS-related legislation, see:
 https://www.nhrs.org/about-nhrs/legislative-updates