For Texas public pension trustees and administrators, 2025 felt like a long-awaited thaw. Dealmaking picked up. IPO markets reopened. Exit values climbed. On the surface, private equity looked healthier than it had in years. But the newest Global Private Markets Report 2026: Private equity — Clearer view, tougher terrain, released Feb. 10 by McKinsey & Co., offers a more nuanced signal. The fog may have lifted, the authors write, but the terrain ahead is more technical and demanding for both general partners and limited partners.

State governments across the U.S. are racing to attract large-scale data center projects fueled by cloud computing and artificial intelligence; however, a new analysis suggests that the long-term fiscal trade-offs could significantly impact state and local budgets. While the report does not directly address public employee retirement systems, its findings raise questions that are increasingly relevant for pension trustees and administrators, particularly regarding tax policy, infrastructure costs, and long-term fiscal sustainability.

At first glance, federal broadband policy may seem far removed from the day-to-day responsibilities of public employee retirement system trustees and administrators. But recent developments reported by Broadband Breakfast suggest changes that could have meaningful economic implications for Texas communities — and, indirectly, for the public pension systems that serve them.

Texas public employee pension systems will face clearer timelines and applicability rules for required investment reviews under updated guidance approved by state regulators in December, a move aimed at strengthening investment oversight and compliance planning.

Artificial intelligence adoption is often discussed in abstract terms. Pilot programs. Vendor demos. Strategic roadmaps that never quite leave the page. But a recent report from JPMorgan Chase, highlighted by VentureBeat, offers a more grounded example of what large-scale AI use can look like when governance, infrastructure, and organizational trust are aligned. According to the report, roughly half of JPMorgan’s workforce now uses internal AI tools. Not because they were mandated to do so, but because the tools were built to connect directly to real workflows, data, and decision-making needs. For public employee retirement systems, the lesson is less about copying a bank’s technology stack and more about understanding the governance conditions that make adoption possible and sustainable.

Managing a public pension system is a long-term commitment built on trust and transparency. Trustees and administrators are tasked with navigating market uncertainty, fiscal pressure, and public accountability while ensuring that retirement benefits remain secure for both active and retired public employees.

Cybersecurity threats are no longer confined to IT departments or large corporations. They are increasingly a governance and fiduciary issue, especially for public employee retirement systems that rely on a wide network of employers, vendors, and service providers.

The beginning of a new year is a good time to pause. Not to overhaul everything, but to reflect on what matters most and where renewed focus can make a real difference. For public employee pension trustees and administrators, New Year’s resolutions are less about personal ambition and more about responsibility, consistency, and trust.

In this episode of the TEXPERS Deep Dive Podcast, we take a look back at Pensionomics 2025, a national research report released in January 2025 by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS), which examines the economic impact of defined benefit pension spending.

The holiday season is here, and so is the annual question: What do you get for the people who safeguard retirement security for millions of public employees? Trustees, administrators, investment professionals, actuaries, and financial partners spend their days navigating market volatility, fulfilling governance responsibilities, and planning for the long term. A thoughtful gift can show appreciation for the vital work they do.

Public employee pension systems are beginning to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance their ability to communicate more effectively with the people they serve. While many AI tools were initially developed for marketing or customer service, the same concepts can also help retirement systems explain complex benefits in clearer and more timely ways.

Investing Without a Map: How Global Pension Funds Are Adopting Dynamic Asset Allocation

Texas public employee retirement systems are operating in one of the most uncertain investment environments in decades, according to a new global survey from the Amundi Investment Institute and CREATE-Research. The report, "Dynamic Asset Allocation on the Rise as Pension Plans Face an Era of Controlled Disorder," released in December 2025, describes today's market landscape as an era of controlled disorder, shaped by heightened volatility, shifting U.S. policy, and structural inflation pressures.

Texas public pension systems are reviewing new federal rules that establish accessibility requirements for websites and mobile apps used by state and local governments. The U.S. Department of Justice finalized the rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure digital services are accessible to people with disabilities.

Public pension funds hold some of the most sensitive information in local government. This includes Social Security numbers, banking details, beneficiary records, and extensive financial histories for active and retired public servants. As geopolitical tensions rise, cyber risks evolve, and regulations shift, organizations across every sector are reassessing the extent of control they truly have over their technology and data environments.

The U.S. Department of Education has agreed to resume long-delayed student debt relief under income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs as part of a legal settlement announced Oct. 17, 2025, in American Federation of Teachers v. U.S. Department of Education, according to the American Federation of Teachers.

Key insights from the Oh, Behave! report and The Deep Dive Podcast by TEXPERS.

Each year, TEXPERS brings together the trustees, administrators, and service providers who guide more than $32.7 billion in public pension assets for Texas’ municipal, police, and firefighter employees. For sponsors, the Annual Conference isn’t just an event—it’s an opportunity to align your brand with fiduciary leadership, investment excellence, and long-term public service.

A looming federal government shutdown could cause headaches for Texas public retirement system trustees and administrators who frequently travel for board meetings, training, and conferences, even though commercial flights are expected to continue operating.

The Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act Educational Foundation will host its annual Educational Conference Oct. 5–7, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Convention Center, 500 Cypress St., Abilene, Texas. The three-day event will bring together trustees, administrators, investment professionals, and service providers to focus on governance, education, and the future of firefighter pension systems.

On Sept. 27, people across the country will roll up their sleeves for National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. From planting trees to cleaning trails, it is a day when communities come together to give back. Entry to all national parks is free, making it a celebration of both service and access.