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Gov. Newsom Vetoes McKinnor’s Bill to Expand First Responder Pension Benefits

September 23, 2026

California Governor Gavin Newsom rejected legislation that would have enhanced pension benefits for public safety workers, expressing worry about fiscal impacts and threats to the state retirement system. The proposed bill would have allowed qualifying safety employees to access maximum pension benefits at age 55 instead of 57, partially rolling back 2013 pension reforms known as PEPRA. Supporters, including firefighter and police unions, argued the enhanced benefits were necessary to address recruitment and retention difficulties in public safety careers.

Who is affected

  • California public safety workers, including firefighters, police officers, and other first responders who would have been hired on or after January 1, 2027
  • Approximately 77,200 sworn law enforcement officers currently employed in California
  • CAL FIRE employees
  • California cities, counties, and state government agencies that employ public safety personnel
  • Taxpayers who would fund the increased pension costs
  • Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, who authored the legislation
  • Labor organizations including California Professional Firefighters and Peace Officers Research Association of California

What action is being taken

  • Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1383, returning it without his signature to the California State Assembly.

Why it matters

  • This decision maintains the existing PEPRA pension reform structure that California lawmakers established in 2013 to control rising retirement costs and prevent potential elimination of defined-benefit plans for public employees. The veto preserves fiscal stability for state and local governments by avoiding billions in additional long-term pension liabilities, but it also leaves unaddressed the recruitment and retention challenges facing California's public safety workforce, which remains approximately 3% below 2019 staffing levels. The decision reflects an ongoing tension between attracting qualified first responders through competitive benefits and managing sustainable government pension obligations.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint