Coming Soon: 2024 Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll Offers Key Workforce Insights

On March 27, the U.S. Census Bureau will release the latest summary report and data tables from the 2024 Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll—a vital dataset for understanding employment trends across state and local governments, including the gross monthly payroll for March 2024.

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Dallas Pension Oversight Battle Deepens as Senate Bill Advances and Mayor Moves to Reshape Board

The fight over control of the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System escalated this week after the Texas Senate Finance Committee advanced Senate Bill 1527, a measure from Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, that would give the City of Dallas greater authority over the pension fund's recovery plan. Just one day later, Mayor Eric Johnson moved to appoint two new board members to the pension system—Rob Walters, a retired antitrust lawyer and former pension board member, and David Kelly, a financial expert with experience chairing the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. They would replace Board Chair Nick Merrick, recently appointed ambassador to the Czech Republic, and Mark Malveaux, who resigned due to increased work commitments.

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This Week in Public Pensions: Key Legislative Moves, Economic Trends, and Events Impacting Texas Retirement Systems

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market developments is essential for those managing Texas public employee retirement systems. This week's roundup features key updates on legislative hearings, national pension trends, investment insights, upcoming events, and research impacting public pensions. Each entry includes The Story and Why It Matters to help trustees, administrators, and stakeholders stay informed and make strategic decisions.

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Shaping Up to Be an Unmissable Event: TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference – March 29 – April 2 in Austin

The TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference, presented by Dimensional Fund Advisors, is shaping up to be one of our most dynamic gatherings yet! From March 29 to April 2, public pension trustees, administrators, investment professionals, and policymakers from across Texas and beyond will come together at the Renaissance Austin Hotel for an unparalleled experience of education, networking, and strategic discussions.

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Proposed Texas Parks and Wildlife Dissolution Raises Questions for Public Employees

A new legislative proposal in Texas could significantly impact public employees and their pension benefits. House Bill 4938, filed by Rep. Pat Curry (R-Waco), aims to dissolve the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and redistribute its functions across three other state agencies.

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A Digital Gold Rush? Texas Moves Toward a State Bitcoin Reserve

Texas is one step closer to becoming the first in the U.S. to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a tool the bill's authors claim is to enhance financial resilience, hedge against economic instability, and diversify state assets by leveraging Bitcoin's potential for long-term value appreciation and investment returns.

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Texas Legislative Session Bill Filing Deadline Passes with Record Numbers

March 14, 2025, marks the 60th day of the 89th Legislative Session in Texas, which serves as the final deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions, except for local bills, emergency appropriations, or bills declared an emergency by the state's governor. As of the filing deadline, preliminary data from Texas Legislature Online (TLO) indicates that this session has seen a record-breaking number of bills filed compared to previous sessions:

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Pensions Outlook: Legislative Updates, Economic Trends, and Key Events Shaping Public Retirement Systems

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market movements is crucial for public pension funds, institutional investors, and retirement professionals. This week’s Pensions Outlook covers key legislative updates, including a Texas House committee hearing and the latest TEXPERS 89th TxLege Bill Tracker, along with new Census data on metro growth and a look at the private lending boom reshaping investment strategies. We also explore managing emotions in high-stakes environments and highlight must-attend industry events, including the TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference with training and networking opportunities for pension leaders.

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TEXPERS Pensions Outlook: Key Updates for Public Pension Professionals

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market movements is crucial for public pension funds, institutional investors, and retirement professionals. This week's developments highlight a mix of economic optimism, policy initiatives, and investment challenges. Below, we break down key stories shaping the landscape, providing The Story and Why It Matters to help you navigate these changes.

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Honoring Texas' Fallen Heroes: The 2025 Texas Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony

Staying connected to the communities they serve is vital for those who oversee the retirement benefits of Texas' public employees, including the brave men and women in law enforcement. On April 26, 2025, the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony will take place at the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial on the Capitol Grounds in Austin, Texas, offering an opportunity to pay tribute to the fallen officers who dedicated their lives to protecting the public.

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Social Security to Issue Retroactive Payments, Increased Benefits for Public Workers Affected by WEP and GPO

The Social Security Administration announced it will begin issuing retroactive payments and increased monthly benefits to more than 3.2 million public sector workers impacted by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset following the repeal of both provisions.

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Elevate Your Professional Journey at TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference

The TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference is poised to be a landmark event for public employee retirement system trustees, administrators, investment industry vendors, and professionals across Texas. Presented by Dimensional Fund Advisors and hosted from March 30 to April 2, 2025, this premier conference is your gateway to cutting-edge insights, robust networking, and dynamic learning experiences—all designed to propel your career and shape the future of our industry.

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Pension News Alert: Legal Risks, Economic Outlook & Conference Reminders

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market movements is crucial for public pension funds, institutional investors, and retirement professionals. This week's developments highlight a mix of economic optimism, policy initiatives, and investment challenges. Below, we break down key stories shaping the landscape, providing The Story and Why It Matters to help you navigate these changes.

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TEXPERS Office Closed for President’s Day

In observance of President’s Day, the TEXPERS office will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

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Nicholas Merrick, Chairman of Dallas Police and Fire Pension Fund, Nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Czechia

Nicholas A. Merrick, chairman of the Dallas Police and Fire Pension Fund (DPFP) Board of Trustees, has been nominated by Pres. Donald Trump as the next U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic.

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Texas House Names Key Players in Pensions, Investments & Financial Services: What It Means for Public Employee Retirement Systems

On Feb. 13, 2025, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced committee assignments for the 89th Legislature, a decision that will shape the direction of key financial and pension-related policies in the state. Among the most critical assignments for Texas public employee pension system stakeholders is the Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Committee (PIFS). This committee oversees legislation related to state and local retirement systems, financial institutions, and investment policies that impact pension funds.

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Join Us for the TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference – Presented by Dimensional Fund Advisors!

The TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference is just around the corner, and we can't wait to welcome you to Austin, Texas, from March 29 - April 2, 2025! This premier event is your opportunity to network, learn, and stay ahead of the latest trends in public employee pensions and investments.

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New PRB Online Training Course: Texas Systems Reporting and Compliance

The Pension Review Board has launched a new online continuing education course: “Texas Systems Reporting and Compliance.” This course is designed to help system administrators and trustees understand the agency's public pension oversight, reporting requirements, and compliance best practices—all from the convenience of an online platform.

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TEXPERS Weekly Roundup: Pension, Investments, and Retirement News

Keeping Texas public pension trustees and administrators informed on key industry developments.

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Weekly Roundup: Pensions, Investments & Market Trends

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market movements is crucial for public pension funds, institutional investors, and retirement professionals. This week’s developments highlight a mix of economic optimism, policy initiatives, and investment challenges. Below, we break down key stories shaping the landscape, providing The Story and Why It Matters to help you navigate these changes.

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