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Read. Follow. Verify.Delaware adjusts pension contribution rates for judges and magistrates to protect tax status
Last action · February 7, 2025: Signed by GovernorSponsors: Trey Paradee and 2 others
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What This Bill Does
This law allows certain newly qualifying Justices of the Peace, Commissioners, and Magistrates to choose between remaining in the State Employees' Pension Plan or joining the State Judicial Pension Plan at their existing of 3% or 5%. It sets a mandatory 5% pre-tax contribution rate for any subsequently appointed judicial officers or existing judicial officers who take a new position after the effective date. Additionally, it delays the implementation date of Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 174 to January 26, 2025.
The measure directly alters retirement plan choices and pre-tax contribution percentages for state judicial officers and magistrates to prevent the state pension system from losing its .
- The measure modifies contribution rules previously established under Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 174 from the 152nd General Assembly. context
- The Board of Pension Trustees voted unanimously on December 10, 2024, to delay implementation after discovering potential impacts on federal tax status. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Justices of the Peace, Commissioners, and Magistrates
Judicial officers and magistrates receive new contribution rate election options and face mandatory contribution rules for future appointments.
Board of Pension Trustees
The board implements the delayed effective date and administers the revised pension contribution options.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to choose their pension contribution rate under this act?
What is the mandatory contribution rate for newly appointed judicial officers?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
9 actions- Feb 7, 2025Office of the GovernorEnrolledSigned by Governor
- Jan 30, 2025HouseFloorPassed By House. Votes: 37 YES 4 ABSENT
- Jan 29, 2025HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 5 On Its Merits
- Jan 22, 2025HouseIntroducedAssigned to Administration Committee in House
- Jan 21, 2025SenateFloorPassed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 VACANT
- Jan 21, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment SA 1 to SB 42 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 VACANT
Show 3 earlier actions
- Jan 15, 2025SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 7 On Its Merits
- Jan 14, 2025SenateIntroducedRe-Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
- Jan 10, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
SM
Total
37
- Yes
- 37
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (37)
13 more members
Show 1 earlier roll call
SM
Total
19
- Yes
- 19
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (19)
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Corrective Pension Legislation
The act was rapidly introduced to correct an unintended federal tax compliance risk created by the enactment of Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill No. 174.
Connected Entities
Sources
legis.delaware.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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