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April 2025
Latest Developments
Constitutional Amendment 2, which emerged from the 2024 Third Special Session, did not pass in the recent March 29 statewide election. The amendment sought to use money from three educational trust funds to erase a portion of TRSL retirement debt, known as the unfunded accrued liability (UAL). The UAL payment was designed to reduce the annual contribution rate TRSL-participating employers pay for retirement. This would, then, free up money to make permanent the stipend teachers ($2,000) and support staff ($1,000) received in the 2024-2025 school year.
Click image to read full letter.
Gov. Jeff Landry asked TRSL to share a letter on this topic with our membership. Read his letter here.
A NOTE ON INTEREST PAYMENTS AND SAVINGS: As TRSL has provided information to our membership on Constitutional Amendment No. 2, we have outlined the impact of accelerated payment of the UAL. On this matter, we have been asked questions specific to interest on the UAL: how interest accrues, who pays it, to whom is it paid, and how savings occur. Here are the answers: Interest on the UAL is calculated at 7.25%—which is TRSL’s long-term expected rate of return on its investments. Because the UAL represents funds TRSL does not have to invest, there is the assumption that if TRSL did have these funds, they would earn this rate. This funding approach ensures the retirement system is actuarially funded. All payments on the UAL, including interest payments, are made directly to TRSL by employers through employer contributions. Interest savings result when UAL payments are paid earlier than planned because the debt (i.e., UAL) upon which interest accrues is reduced.
2025 Regular Legislative Session: Monday, April 14 - Thursday, June 12

The 2025 Regular Legislative Session kicks off Monday, April 14. We’re monitoring nine bills impacting TRSL. Continue reading for information about these bills and how to stay informed throughout session.
Stay informed: 
Visit the legislation page of our website to monitor each bill's status and see the board’s position.
You can also sign up our Legislative Updates to receive emails about the latest action on bills affecting the retirement system.  
Investments/ESG-Related
  • Senate Bill 7 (Sen. Hodges) Would establish new requirements and restrictions on companies that contract with Louisiana’s state and statewide retirement systems to manage the systems’ assets or provide proxy voting services.  
Return to Work
  • House Bill 20 (Rep. Moore) Would increase the earnings limit from 25% to 50% of a retiree’s final average compensation (FAC) for those retirees who retired on/after July 1, 2020 and select RTW Option 1 (no benefit suspension) when returning to work. As in current law, the retiree’s benefit would be reduced when the earnings limit is reached.
Optional Retirement Plan and TRSL Membership
  • House Bill 24 (Rep. Bacala) Would change provisions related to the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) – a defined contribution plan that is available to unclassified faculty and staff in higher education. Also proposes to make changes to the TRSL defined benefit plan by allowing those who meet either of the following criteria to decline membership in TRSL: (1) at least age 60; or (2) at least age 55 years with 40 quarters in Social Security.
Citizenship/Immigration Verification and Public Benefits
  • House Bill 307 (Rep. Henry) Would require state agencies or political subdivisions to verify citizenship or immigration status when an applicant applies for federal, state, or local public benefits, including retirement benefits. If unable to verify citizenship or legal immigration, the public entity would be required to report this information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and terminate any recurring benefits.
Supplemental Payment toward UAL
  • House Bill 460 (Rep. McFarland) Would make a supplemental appropriation of $79.5 million to the TRSL initial unfunded accrued liability (IUAL) from a portion of the FY 2023-24 surplus funds in the state treasury as required by the state Constitution.
Repeal of Mineral Revenue Dedication to UAL
  • House Bill 472 (Rep. Emerson) A proposed constitutional amendment that, among other changes, would remove the constitutional dedication of certain mineral revenues to pay down TRSL’s initial unfunded accrued liability (IUAL). Statewide election would be held November 3, 2026.

  • House Bill 599 (Rep. Emerson) Enabling legislation for House Bill 472.
Additional Payments toward UAL/Companion 
  • House Bill 473 (Rep. Emerson) A proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize an additional, one-time payment to erase a portion of TRSL retirement debt, also known as the unfunded accrued liability (UAL), by using the balance in three educational trust funds. The debt payment would reduce the employer contribution rate for TRSL-participating employers. Statewide election would be held November 3, 2026.

  • House Bill 466 (Rep. Carlson) A companion bill to HB 473, would direct the savings realized from the reduced employer contribution rate for TRSL-participating employers, if enacted through the constitutional amendment, to make permanent salary increases for teachers ($2,000) and school personnel ($1,000) beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. 
Time is running out to qualify as a candidate in the 2025 TRSL Board of Trustees election. The qualifying deadline is 4:30 p.m. (CST), Wednesday, April 30.
This year, the terms of office for the board members who represent School Food Service employees and retirees are expiring. An election will be held to fill the new four-year terms which will begin January 1, 2026.  
Wondering if you’re eligible to run?
  • School Food Service: You must be an active member of TRSL paid with School Food Service funds. See our flyer for more details.

  • Retirees: You must be retired by April 30, 2025. See our flyer for more details.
What’s involved in serving?
Check out these resources:
What do trustees do?
The 17-member board is responsible for safeguarding and managing the assets held in trust to provide retirement income for thousands of retirees and beneficiaries. The TRSL Board meets monthly to develop policies for the administration of the plan, monitor investment performance, review investment manager portfolios, and review system operations.
Ready to run for office?
Send a letter of intent to TRSL by U.S. Certified Mail, U.S. Registered Mail, U.S. Express Mail, or other carrier that requires proof of delivery. The letter must be in TRSL’s office by 4:30 p.m. (CST), Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Where do I send my letter of intent?
Katherine Whitney, TRSL Director
Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana
8401 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 300
Baton Rouge, LA 70809-7017
Spring webinars are here!
Is retirement around the corner? Zoom into TRSL’s spring webinars to make sure you’re on track. We’ll talk about DROP, explain the retirement options, and much more!
Webinars are led by TRSL’s retirement education team and are a breezy 30 minutes. Explore the line-up and join us at an upcoming event!

CHECK OUT OUR POPULAR ON-DEMAND VIDEOS

How Much Service Credit Do You Have?
You know your age. You know your zip code. Do you know how much TRSL service credit you have?
With five years of TRSL service credit, you are vested. That means you’ve unlocked a lifetime retirement benefit. Once you reach retirement eligibility and retire, TRSL will send you a monthly benefit payment for the rest of your life, whether you live to be 83 or 103.
You can find out how much TRSL service credit you have online in our secure member portal. 
FAQ's about Service Credit
  • I refunded my employee contributions and later started contributing to TRSL again. Will my refunded time count toward my service credit? 
    No. When you take a refund of your employee contributions, you cancel your service credit.

  • Can I restore refunded service credit? 
    Yes. More information can be found at www.trsl.org.

  • What happens to my service credit if I stop working for a TRSL-participating employer? 
    Absolutely nothing. If you have at least five years of service credit, you can apply for retirement once you reach eligibility.
At TRSL.org, we’ve done some reorganizing to make it easier than ever to navigate our website. Stop by today for a tour!
The fresh redesign has bright, new colors, easier navigation, and streamlined content. For actively working members, here’s what we’ve designed with you in mind:
  • Quick links: Need to find a form, attend a workshop or just locate an answer to a question about sick leave? Quick links are designed to make navigating the website a snap. Look for the green icons on the homepage.
  • Information organized by career stages: New, streamlined career boxes allow you to pick where you are on the career path and easily find the information that’s probably most relevant to you. Look for the career stage boxes on the homepage to get started.
Start site seeing at www.TRSL.org. 
 
QUESTIONS? Ask TRSL
PO Box 94123 | Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9123 US
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