Chairman Carson outlines SB143: firefighter pension tweaks and judge benefit transfer to TRS

At a committee session of the 2026 Georgia Legislature, Chairman Carson summarized Senate Bill 143 as pension-related changes affecting firefighters and a judicial beneficiary plan.

Chairman Carson said the bill provides for retirement benefits beginning at age 55 after 25 years of service for firefighters and allows a firefighter to continue serving locally while receiving benefits from the supplemental annuity fund. He also said the substitute incorporates House Bill 818 to move the tax court judge’s defined-benefit plan from ERS to TRS: “What this does is moves the pension for the defined benefit plan for the tax court judge from ERS to TRS.”

There were no detailed questions recorded about SB143 in this transcript, and the committee later moved SB143 onto the supplemental calendar during a procedural series of motions.

Why it matters: The substitute clarifies retirement eligibility and benefit continuation for firefighters and transfers a judicial plan between state retirement systems, changes that affect pension administration and beneficiary treatment.

What’s next: SB143 was moved to the supplemental calendar; the transcript does not record a final floor vote or fiscal analysis.