February 12, 2021

Legislators are approaching their first set of deadlines. Bills must be out of their respective committees by Feb. 15. The legislature’s financial committees need to clear bills out of their committees by Feb. 22.

It appears that HB 1032 – allowing for early retirement benefits during the coronavirus crisis – will die in the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1040 to open a window for retirees currently locked out of PEBB insurance will suffer a similar fate. It is unfortunate – they were good bills.

Our first priority continues to maintain the $183 retiree healthcare benefit. This is maintained at this point.