Advocacy

2025 LRTA Legislative Priorities

Although these priorities are listed in numerical order, the below items are all top priorities of LRTA.

1. LRTA supports a retirement benefit structure administered by the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana that includes adequate and stable funding for regular cost-of-living increases to preserve the purchasing power of retirees.
2. LRTA supports Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) reforms that provide for supplemental benefit increases on a regular basis as the UAL is reduced and paid through the cost savings to the state.
3. LRTA supports dedicated allocations from state funds to meet the state’s obligation to reduce the Initial Unfunded Accrued Liabilities (IUALs) of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana without causing an adverse budget impact on public education agencies or retirees.
4. LRTA supports state revenue enhancements that provide a meaningful economic impact on retired educators in enhancing their dignity, independence and overall quality of life.
5. LRTA supports funding from state funds to offset increasing costs of health insurance premiums and other benefits for retired educators offered by the Office of Group Benefits and other health care insurers and providers.
6. LRTA opposes any action that would negatively impact the actuarial soundness of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.
7. LRTA opposes the consolidation of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana with any other retirement system.
8. LRTA opposes the consolidation of assets of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana with any other retirement system and opposes any other action that would dilute membership control of the investment of the assets of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.
9. LRTA opposes any action that would alter the current defined benefit structure offered by the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana to its members.
10. LRTA supports a viable, adequately funded public education program that requires educators to become members of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.
11. LRTA opposes the provision of state funded scholarships/vouchers for public elementary and secondary school students to attend private and non-public schools.
12. LRTA supports Social Security reform but opposes measures that would reduce benefits or require mandatory participation if it prevents states from providing their own public retirement plan.
13. LRTA supports the continuation of Louisiana state income tax exemption for retirement benefits issued by the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.
14. LRTA opposes any legislation or bill that would cut or diminish Medicare benefits.
15. LRTA opposes any legislation that calls for a state constitutional convention that targets retirement protections under title XI of the state constitution.