TRS Board Meets, Enacts TRS-Care Changes From HB 3976
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees held meetings on June 1 and 2. The TRS Board of Trustees finalized changes to TRS-Care’s benefit structure during the meetings as recommended by the Texas Legislature. TRS-Care, the health insurance program provided by Texas to more than 256,000 retired teachers, underwent significant funding and […]
85th Legislative Session Comes to an End, Budget Passes
The 85th regular session of the Texas Legislature came to an end on Monday, May 29, 2017. Though Governor Greg Abbott has yet to decide whether or not to call a special session to cover any remaining issues, the state budget (Senate Bill 1) has passed and the fate of the TRS-Care retiree health insurance […]
HB 3976 On Its Way to the Governor, TRTA Answers Member Questions
Announcement: HB 3976 received a final vote in the Texas House on Wednesday, May 24. The bill as passed includes the amendments made in the Texas Senate, such as $20 million in prescription coverage for the under 65 age group. HB 3976 is now on its way to the Governor for his signature. If signed […]
HB 3976 Passes the Senate, TRTA Facebook Live Event May 23
HB 3976, the TRS-Care reform bill authored by Chairman Trent Ashby(R-Lufkin) and sponsored by Chairman Joan Huffman (R-Houston), passed the Senate on Sunday, May 21 with a vote of 31-0. As members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) know, the TRS-Care retiree health insurance program is facing a shortfall of more than $1 billion […]
Budget Conferees Allocate Approximately $480 Million Towards TRS-Care Shortfall
Tonight, the Texas Legislature’s budget conferees adopted a strategy that will allocate approximately $480 million towards TRS-Care. This budget will still need to be approved in both the House and Senate. CSHB 3976, the bill that would prevent TRS-Care from entering “a death spiral,” is still awaiting a vote in the Texas Senate. TRTA will […]
CSHB 3976 Placed on Senate Intent Calendar, Budget Still Pending
Earlier this week, CSHB 3976, the TRS-Care retiree health insurance reform bill proposed by Chairman Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) and Chairman Joan Huffman (R-Houston), passed out of the Senate State Affairs committee. As our members may recall, during the committee meeting on Monday, May 15, Senator Huffman added a committee substitute to the bill calling for […]
HB 3976 Passes Out of the Senate State Affairs Committee, Huffman Proposes $20 Million In Prescription Coverage to Be Added
Today, May 15, 2017, the Senate Committee on State Affairs met to vote on CSHB 3976, the bill designed to prevent the TRS-Care death spiral. Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston), who chairs the State Affairs Committee, is the bill’s sponsor. The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) published an update about CSHB 3976 this past Friday, May […]
More Q&A About TRS-Care Projected Changes
Use TRTA’s Action Alert to contact your legislators. The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) continues to field questions about the possible changes that will come with the passage of HB 3976, the TRS-Care bill. On Monday, May 8, TRTA sent out an Inside Line specifically addressing potential changes for participants age 65 and over. You […]
Questions About Medicare Advantage Answered
Many members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) who are age 65 or over have called and emailed asking about the probable changes that will occur with their medical insurance after the legislative session ends. While there are many questions to address regarding all of the tenets of HB 3976, this Inside Line specifically […]
HB 3976 Passes Out Of Texas House
House Bill 3976 passed out of the Texas House in a 143-0 vote this afternoon (May 3). The bill relates to making dramatic changes to TRS-Care, including providing $633 million towards continuing the state-run retiree health insurance program. Without HB 3976’s passage, TRS-Care would likely have gone into free-fall. The program was predicted to collapse […]