Legislative News

Update: April 24, 2025

House Bill 1221 has now been approved by the Legislature, passing unanimously in the House (90-0) and moving forward from the Senate (39-11). This legislation secures a “13th Check” for 2025, with a 5% reduction from previous years.

We understand this news is mixed. While we had hoped for a multi-year guarantee of the “13th Check” securing a single year ensures that we are not locked into reduced amounts. In fact, this provides a platform to keep fighting annually for what you have earned and deserve.

📌 A key point of clarity: the funding for the “13th Check” comes from the Supplemental Reserve Account, which is supported by the Hoosier Lottery and local corporation surcharges – not from the state’s general fund. However, budgetary cuts and limitations were across the board, as fiscal pressures continue to increase.

What this means for us:

We’ve secured one more year of the “13th Check” – this is meaningful progress!!
We are not locked into a 5% reduction for upcoming years.
We remain steadfast in our primary goal: securing permanent pension enhancements, whether through an annual “13th Check” or a COLA, depending on retirement date.

Your voice, your stories, and your years of service matter deeply: We will continue advocating for long-term, sustainable retirement enhancements—not just once, but every year, in every legislative session. Our commitment extends beyond today’s retirees. We are fighting for future generations, those who have dedicated their lives to education and deserve the security they’ve earned.

📬 Keep the Momentum Going! We encourage you to reach out and thank your legislators for their support. Keep the conversation going. Let them know what pension enhancements like the “13th Check” mean to you personally.

Together, we are over 60,000 strong. Together, we will continue to make a difference.

Update: April 10, 2025

House Bill 1221 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee 11-1 after an amendment was adopted to remove the “13th Check.” The Appropriations Committee wishes to address the possibility of a “13th Check” during Senate budget discussions.

Although this slows down the process for our desired result, it keeps the bill on the table. Remember: IRTA is asking for a “13th Check” until an annual, automatic enhancement is in place!

IMPORTANT: We encourage you to watch the April 10th, 2025, Appropriations Committee by clicking 🔗 HERE and selecting the date from the dropdown menu. HB 1221 Begins at 2:25:25.

📌 Follow HB 1221 by clicking🔗 here or visiting the Indiana General Assembly website (iga.in.gov). Simply go to the Legislative Tab, select Bills, and search for HB 1221.

ACTION NEEDED:

Contact your Senator and urge them to support a “13th check.”

Even if you’ve already reached out—please do so again. Every message counts.

Ask your friends, family, and neighbors to reach out as well!

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR:

🔎 Find Your Senator HERE ! You can call or📧 Send an Email:

Email address format: Senator.[LastName]@iga.in.gov
Example: If your Senator’s last name is Goode → Senator.Goode@iga.in.gov

📬 Mail a Letter:

Address it to: Indiana Senate200 W. Washington St.Indianapolis, IN 46204

WHAT TO SAY:

Introduce yourself (Your name, that you are an IRTA member, and where you live) State your request clearly: "I urge you to support a ‘13^th check’ in 2025 and 2026." Thank them for their time and ask for their support.

📢 EVERY CONTACT HELPS!

Update: March 26, 2025

House Bill 1221 passed the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee with a 10-0 vote in favor! 🎉

This is a huge step toward securing a 13th Check for retirees!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: An amendment was added to the bill today, which we believe is important. We encourage everyone to read the latest version of the bill to stay informed and reach out if you have any questions.

Track HB 1221 and find the latest information here: 🔗 Click here

WHAT’S NEXT? The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a critical vote. We’re getting closer, but we still need your support!

ACTION NEEDED:

Contact your Senator and urge them to support HB1221. To ensure HB 1221 gets the support it needs, we’re asking members to contact their Senators during a specific week, based on the first letter of their last name.

WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR:

🗓 Find the first letter of your last name below and contact your Senator during that week:

✅ Last name starts with A, B, or C → Contact your Senator March 3-7

✅ Last name starts with D, E, F, or G → Contact your Senator March 10-14

✅ Last name starts with H, I, J, or K → Contact your Senator March 17-21

✅ Last name starts with L, M, N, or O → Contact your Senator March 24-28

✅ Last name starts with P, Q, R, or S → Contact your Senator March 31-April 4

✅ Last name starts with T, U, V, or W → Contact your Senator April 7-11

✅ Last name starts with X, Y, or Z → Contact your Senator April 14-18

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR:

🔎 Find Your Senator HERE!

📧 Send an Email:

Email address format: Senator.[LastName]@iga.in.gov
Example: If your Senator’s last name is Goode → Senator.Goode@iga.in.gov

📬 Mail a Letter:

Address it to:

Indiana Senate

200 W. Washington St.

Indianapolis, IN 46204

WHAT TO SAY:

Introduce yourself (Your name, that you are an IRTA member, and where you live)

State your request clearly: "I urge you to support House Bill 1221 to ensure retirees receive their 13th Check in 2025 and 2026."

Thank them for their time and ask for their support.

📢 EVERY EMAIL AND LETTER HELPS!

If you have any questions or need assistance, please reply to this email or call us at (888)454-9333.

Thank you for being an essential part of our advocacy efforts. Your involvement can make a significant impact on securing a pension enhancement for Indiana’s retired educators.

👉 Missed your week? No worries—it’s never too late to reach out and show your support!

Update: February 28, 2025

We’re making progress, but we need your voice now more than ever! 💪 House Bill 1221 has successfully moved forward, bringing us one step closer to securing a 13th Check for retirees in 2025 and 2026.

The next critical step? A vote in the Senate. To ensure HB 1221 gets the support it needs, we’re asking members to contact their Senators during a specific week, based on the first letter of their last name.