Action Alert: Contact Governor Abbott and Ask that TRS-Care Funding Be a Priority During the Special Session!
Contact Governor Greg Abbott today and ask him to make TRS-Care funding a priority during the special session! The Lieutenant Governor and several legislators are proposing multiple options for improving TRS-Care funding. While all options are promising, TRS-Care must be placed on the call for special session by the Governor to receive traction and for […]
Rallies Planned and Bills Filed: TRTA Readies for Special Session
The Texas Retired Teachers Association’s (TRTA) members have been communicating with fellow retirees, active teachers and their legislators back home since the 85thLegislative Session concluded on Memorial Day. Many public education retirees in Texas are understandably concerned about how their fixed monthly income will support the impending changes to the TRS-Care retiree health insurance program. […]
ew TRTATV Episode: TRTA Interviews Top TRS Officials
Tim Lee, the Executive Director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), hosted a new episode of TRTATV yesterday. Originally, the episode was scheduled to appear on Facebook Live, but due to audio technical issues, the video could not be broadcast live. Nonetheless, the episode has been recorded with the Executive Director of the Teacher […]
TRTA Facebook Live Event Cancelled Due to Technical Difficulties, Interview with TRS Officials to Be Filmed and Shared
Due to several unforeseen technical and internet connectivity issues today (Wednesday, June 28), the Texas Retired Teachers Association’s scheduled Facebook Live event has been cancelled. However, Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) officials Executive Director Brian Guthrie and Chief Health Care Officer Katrina Daniel have agreed to film a segment with TRTA Executive Director Tim […]
Reminder: TRTA Facebook Live Event This Wednesday, Featuring Top TRS Officials
The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) will host a Facebook Live event this Wednesday, June 28 at 11:00 a.m., featuring two top officials from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS). TRS Executive Director Brian Guthrie and Chief Health Care Officer Katrina Daniel will join TRTA Executive Director Tim Lee on Facebook Live to discuss […]
HB 3976 Signed Into Law
Gov. Gregg Abbott has signed HB 3976 into law. HB 3976 will make significant changes to the retiree health insurance program, TRS-Care. Primarily, HB 3976 increases the amount of money retirees must put into TRS-Care to keep to program solvent. For pre-65 retirees, the increased burden falls under the umbrella of a high deductible health […]
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 […]