“A Helping Hand” Available for Retirees in Need

The Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF), the charitable arm of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), has been busy this spring delivering grants to classroom teachers all across Texas and scholarships to future educators. As our members know, TRTF also supports a grant program that aids public education retirees experiencing critical emergencies. “A Helping Hand” […]

Bill to Replace Windfall Elimination Provision Reaches 100 Cosponsors

Members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) have been contacting their congressmen and sharing information about HR 711, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, with their friends and family living in Texas and other states since the bill was introduced by Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands). TRTA is pleased to report that the […]

Primary Runoff Elections Early Voting Starts Today!

Today, May 16, marks day one of early voting for the Texas Primary Runoff Elections! Many elections in Texas, particularly for seats in the Texas Senate and House, are decided during the Primary Election and not during the November General Election. ATTENTION TRTA MEMBERS IN DISTRICTS WITH A RUNOFF: The power is in your hands! […]

TRS Board of Trustees Meets, Pressure on TRS-Care Fund Escalates

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees met today, May 13, in Austin to discuss various topics, including potential premium and plan design alternatives for TRS-Care. The retiree health benefits program includes the three standard plans (Tiers 1, 2 and 3), as well as the fully-insured Medicare Advantage Plans and the Medicare […]

House Speaker Straus Emphasizes Importance of Retiree Health Care for State Budget

Earlier this week, Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus released a letter to the members of the House Appropriations Committee regarding his concerns for the state budget and the many factors that must be considered during the 85th Legislative Session that begins in January 2017. One of those concerns is the TRS-Care retiree health […]

Primary Runoff Elections Coming Soon!

Thousands of voters turned out for the Texas Primary Election on Super Tuesday. According to the Texas Tribune, “more than 4.2 million Texans turned out to vote in the Republican and Democratic primary presidential elections, about 30 percent of registered voters.” We know that many of our members and their fellow retirees were a part […]

TRTA Hosts Successful 63rd Annual Convention

The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) hosted its 63rd annual convention this week in Houston at the Westin Galleria. More than 1,000 members convened to enjoy fellowship, receive vital training from state counterparts and conduct the business of the association. One of many highlights of the three-day event, Congressman Kevin Brady (R – The Woodlands) […]

TRTA 63rd Annual Convention Starts This Weekend!

The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is finalizing plans for the 63rd Annual TRTA Convention to be held in Houston April 10-12, 2016. More than 1,000 retirees are registered for the event already, which is taking place at the Westin Galleria on 5060 West Alabama. This year’s theme, “Hearts of Texas: TRTA Proud,” focuses on […]

TRS-Care Joint Committee Meets as TRTA Hosts Rally at Capitol

“I’m just chock-full of good news today,” joked Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Executive Director Brian Guthrie after eliciting several prolonged sighs from members of the TRS-Care Joint Committee. The TRS-Care Joint Committee is a sub-committee of the Texas Legislature charged with studying the TRS-Care health insurance program. The committee is comprised of three Senators and […]

MEMBER ALERT: Tomorrow is Primary Election Day in Texas!

Tuesday, March 1 is Super Tuesday in Texas, and thousands of registered voters in Texas still have not voted in the Primary Election! According to the Texas Tribune, “over the 11-day early voting period, a total of 1,107,607 voters, making up 12.08 percent of registered voters, cast ballots in the 15 counties with the highest […]