The official results of the November 7, 2023 election have now been canvassed and certified. The thirteen amendments that were approved by the people of Texas, including the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for eligible Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) annuitants, are now part of the Texas Constitution. The will of the voters has prevailed!
Due to a fatal flaw in the lawsuits that were filed against these amendments, Governor Greg Abbott proceeded with certifying the election results on December 4, 2023. The Office of the Attorney General has notified the district court that the challengers’ lawsuits were fundamentally defective, and that they are moot now that the constitutional amendments have become law in Texas.
While the challengers may lodge further legal complaints, the State of Texas is implementing all the constitutional amendments, including Proposition 9. As a result, the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) does not expect a significant delay in our members receiving their COLAs.
TRTA will continue to update our members on this developing story.
