MaineMaine law places six nurse groups under a special retirement plan
Starting October 1, 2026, six groups of Department of Health and Human Services nurses fall under the 1998 retirement plan if they meet its age and service rules.
What it does
Six listed groups of state nurses fall under Maine’s 1998 retirement plan. Members must meet the plan’s age and service rules, and some benefits are reduced for retirement before age 55.
Covered nurses contribute 8.65% of their pay until they complete 25 years of creditable service, then 7.65%.
The law moves $4,311,605 into the General Fund by June 30, 2027, and provides $4,527,963 for 2026–27 retirement costs. Most of that amount is one-time funding.
Argument forEligible nurses may have their retirement benefits calculated under the special plan, and 25 years in a listed job may help them qualify.
Argument againstThe state sets aside more than $4.5 million for these retirement costs in 2026–27, which could leave less public money for other needs.
More detail
The law places six nurse classifications under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement. This covers Department of Health and Human Services employees classified as Nurse I, Nurse III, Hospital Nurse II, Hospital Nurse III, Hospital Nurse IV, or Licensed Practical Nurse. To qualify, a member generally must be at least 55 with 10 years of plan service, or have 25 years of service in a listed job capacity. For members who qualify through the 25-year rule, benefits are reduced if they retire before age 55. The coverage applies to employees in these classifications on or after October 1, 2026, including those hired later. The law counts all service in the listed nurse capacity when calculating their benefits.
Covered members contribute 8.65% of their earnable pay until they complete 25 years of creditable service, then 7.65%. This applies to members in the listed capacities who are covered by the 1998 Special Plan. The contribution rule applies to service in the listed capacity on or after October 1, 2026.
The law transfers $4,311,605 from the Maine Budget Stabilization Fund to the General Fund by June 30, 2027, and provides 2026–27 funding for retirement costs. The transfer is between state funds. The listed allocations and appropriation support retirement costs for certain Department of Health and Human Services employees. The law provides $217,926 in ongoing funding for Department of Health and Human Services employee costs and $4,310,037 in one-time funding for the increase in the retirement system’s unfunded liability. The transfer must occur by June 30, 2027. The listed employee costs and one-time retirement liability funding are for 2026–27.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 14PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Major
- Apr 14Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 14PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 13Ordered sent down forthwith.
- Vote recorded ADOPT HAH-1053 TO CAS-344. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded RECEDE AND CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 13Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 950 Yeas 35 - Nays 0 - Excused 0 - Absent 0
- Apr 13On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1053) thereto PREVAILEDMinor
- Apr 13ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 13In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.
- Apr 13The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1053) thereto.Minor
- Apr 13Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1053) thereto was ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 13(Yeas 76 - Nays 69 - Absent 5 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)
- Apr 13ROLL CALL NO. 811
- Apr 13On motion of Representative GATTINE of Westbrook, House Amendment "A" (H-1053) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) was READ and ADOPTED.
- Apr 13On motion of Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, the House RECEDED.
- Apr 13Sent down for concurrence.
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin Bill and accompanying papers COMMITTED to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs In NON-CONCURRENCE.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook OBJECTED.
- Apr 13Same Senator moved to SUSPEND THE RULES to RECONSIDER whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) in concurrence.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table.
- 2025
- Jun 25CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- Jun 13On motion by Senator RENY of Lincoln PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence
- Jun 12Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 12PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Jun 11Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Jun 11In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 11The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344).Minor
- Jun 11Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Jun 11Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Jun 11The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Jun 11On motion of Representative ROEDER of Bangor, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Jun 11Reports READ.
- Jun 11Sent down for concurrence
- Jun 11Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-344)Minor
- Jun 11Committee Amendment "A" (S-344) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Jun 11Bill READ ONCE.Minor
- Jun 11On motion by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED.
- Jun 11Reports READ
- Apr 15Voted - Divided Report
- Apr 15Work Session Held
- Mar 21CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
- Feb 19Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 19, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on LABOR pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2Introduced
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