Texas voters delivered a major political shift in the Nov. 3 general election, electing Democrats to statewide offices and giving the party control of the Texas House. The results could influence public pension funding, retirement benefits, economic policy and investment conditions as state and federal lawmakers prepare for a new legislative year.

Today's general election will help determine who makes decisions affecting Texas public policy, including laws that govern public employee retirement systems. For pension trustees, administrators and stakeholders, Election Day is a reminder that effective governance extends beyond investment performance and funding decisions. It also requires public accountability, transparency and informed legislative leadership.

All Texas pension systems once required to repair funding have met the state rule, the Pension Review Board told state budget officials Sept. 3.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s 2026 Texas Senate committee assignments provide an early look at how pension-related legislation may move when the 90th Legislature convenes in January 2027.

A wave of retirements and campaign announcements is reshaping the 2026 election season for Texas lawmakers.

The Texas Pension Review Board (PRB) will hold its next board meeting at 10 a.m. on Thurs., Sept. 25, 2025, at the William P. Clements Building, Fourth Floor, Room 402, 300 W. 15th Street, Austin, TX 78701. The meeting is open to the public, with a virtual option available via Zoom. 

Texas lawmakers officially adjourned the 89th Legislature’s 2nd Called Special Session sine die on Sept. 4, 2025—a Latin phrase meaning “without day,” which signals the final adjournment of a legislative session with no set date to reconvene. The move closed out the session without advancing any new legislation directly affecting public pensions, investments, or retirement benefits. Despite calls from retiree advocates for a supplemental “13th check,” the issue was not included in the Governor’s call, according to the Texas Public Employees Association.

(An update to our Aug. 27 post: “Two Proxy Advisory Firms Suing State Over New Law”.) A U.S. federal judge has blocked enforcement of Senate Bill 2337 (SB 2337)—the new Texas law targeting proxy advisory firms—before it could take effect, according to Reuters.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has released its Pro‑Worker Scorecard for the 89th Texas Legislative Session, grading state lawmakers on their alignment with ten legislative priorities aimed at improving wages, benefits, and workplace conditions across Texas. For public employees and those overseeing retirement systems, the scorecard provides insight into where elected officials stand on issues that can impact compensation, benefits, and long-term retirement security.

In a June 2025 blog post, AARP Texas highlighted a range of legislative achievements for older Texans: enhanced fraud protection, stronger standards for long‑term care, expanded housing support, judicial training, and a proposed Dementia Prevention & Research Institute. While not all bills directly reference pensions, they have clear implications for fund administrators in policy, risk management, and member communication.

He's said it once and repeating it: Texas governmental entities have a legal duty to redact any personally identifying information on voters' ballots when a Public Information Act request is made. In a new legal ruling, the state's Attorney General, Ken Paxton, issued the reminder.

With a commitment to furthering the progress he says was achieved during the 88th Regular Legislative Session and two preceding special sessions this summer, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Oct. 5 unveiled his agenda for the third legislative special session of the year. The special session starts at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9.

TEXPERS members might want to tune in for upcoming legislative hearings. 

There is a bill on the Texas Senate Calendar for April 19 that relates to the fiduciary responsibilities of the governing bodies of public retirement systems in the state and their investment managers and proxy advisors.

The Texas House Committee on Pensions, Investments and Financial Services is holding a public hearing at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 12 in E2.014 of the Capitol Building. 

House Committee on Pensions, Investment, and Financial Services members met on March 1 to discuss the Employee Retirement System and the Teacher Retirement System, among other topics.

State and local government public pensions weren't among Gov. Greg Abbot's State of the State address on Feb. 16; however, he did discuss the importance of the public education system in Texas, touted previous increases to teacher pay, and said the current legislative session could do even more for the educational system and teachers. 

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan announced committee assignments on Feb. 8, naming Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Keller, chair of the Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services.

The Senate Committee on Finance met on Jan. 30, 2023, to discuss Senate Bill 1, the Senate budget proposal, and to hear presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and Article 1 agencies. It was necessary to reschedule the hearing due to inclement weather; however, the Texas Pension Review Board made its presentation.