Teachers Retirement System of Georgia Board of Trustees Meeting - March 2026
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The Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) held its bimonthly Board of Trustees meeting March 25, 2026.

The full agenda can be found by clicking the button below.
Bill Reauthorizing Return-to-Work Program Crosses Legislative Finish Line |
 One of PAGE’s 2026 member-driven legislative priorities on reducing teacher vacancies was approved by the Georgia General Assembly in SB 150. SB 150, sponsored by Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro) and carried in the House by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins), reauthorizes Georgia’s educator return-to-work (RtW) program, which allows retired educators to work full-time after a one-year waiting period and draw retirement benefits while teaching in qualified positions. The bill allows three areas of highest need to be determined at the local school level rather than at the Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) level. Educators hired in these locally designated areas of highest need could remain working even if the system later changes its designated subjects. The bill also designates subjects that would qualify for RtW on a statewide basis. These include English language arts (as long as the teacher holds a current dyslexia or reading endorsement approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission), science, special education, math, and Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE). While the original version of SB 150 allowed educators with 25 years of creditable service to return to full-time work after a 60-day waiting period, the final version requires 30 years of service and a one-year waiting period. SB 150 does not lower the years of service required for full retirement benefits. Click the button below to find contact information for your House and Senate members and thank them for supporting the RtW program. |
Fiduciary Net Position & FY 26 Rate of Return
The TRS net position in Jan. 2025 was $113 billion.
The TRS net position in Jan. 2026 was $127 billion.
The TRS net position in Feb. 2025 was $112 billion.
The TRS net position in Feb. 2026 was $129 billion.
TRS reports a 11.66% rate of return for FY 26, which began in July.
Executive Director's Report and Legislative Update
TRS Executive Director Jason Branch provided trustees with an update on TRS's divisions. His presentation is available here or by clicking the button at the top of the report.
Branch provided a legislative update, highlighting the return-to-work bills discussed in the blue box earlier in the report. He also provided updates on additional TRS bills that were considered by the Georgia General Assembly. None of these bills were ultimately approved, though the study committee created by HR 1582 is still eligible to be appointed by House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington).
Bills Branch mentioned include:
SB 209, by Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell), would have allowed Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) members to irrevocably opt in to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). The measure has been presented as a way to help districts incentivize recruitment and retention of hard-to-fill positions.
HR 1582, by Rep. Carmen Rice (R-Columbus), would create the House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation to study a step increase for veteran teachers at 28 years of experience. Currently, step increases stop at 21 years of experience. PAGE worked with Rep. Rice to introduce the resolution and appreciates her responsiveness to the needs of veteran teachers, who continue to express concern about the lack of state salary steps beyond 21 years.
HB 599Â by Rep. Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford), another bill that would have reauthorized the RtW program.
HB 773Â by Rep. Mekyah McQueen (D-Smyrna), a similar bill to SB 209 regarding PSERS members opting in to become TRS members, would have allowed PSERS members to make an irrevocable election to become TRS members.
HB 873Â by Rep. Rick Townsend (R-St. Simons) would have allowed Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) employees to draw retirement benefits and return to work at the state education agency.
PAGE Staff Recognition
Retired veteran educator and PAGE Membership Services Representative Hayley Gilreath was featured on a slide in the Communications & Outreach Division's presentation (pictured second from the left in the slide below). Gilreath filmed a video for the agency highlighting advice for new TRS members, which has garnered more than 57,000 views. The video is available HERE.
 | Next Meeting The next board meeting will be May 13. The full 2026 TRS Board of Trustees meeting calendar is available here. |