2026 Legislation

The following is a summary of 2026 NYSTRS-related legislation that has been signed into law.

World Trade Center Eligibility Period for New York National Guard Members

Chapter 294 of the Laws of 2026 (S10650/A11538)
Signed into Law Sept. 10, 2026
Effective Sept. 10, 2026

Chapter 294 amends the Military Law to extend the deadline for National Guard members and their beneficiaries to submit an accidental disability or accidental death benefit to Sept. 11, 2030. 

World Trade Center Presumptive Eligibility Period

Chapter 295 of the Laws of 2026 (S10085A/A11213A)
Signed into Law Sept. 10, 2026
Effective Sept. 10, 2026

Chapter 295 amends various provisions of the law, including section 2575 of the Education Law pertaining to NYSTRS retirees, to expand the eligibility period of retirement that allows for the reclassification of a retiree who dies from a qualifying World Trade Center condition. Previously, a member may not be retired for more than 25 years to be eligible for this benefit. Effective Sept. 10, 2026, the eligibility period increased from 25 years to a maximum of 35 years. 

World Trade Center Disability Deadline Extension

Chapter 296 of the Laws of 2026 (S10605/A11531)
Signed into Law Sept. 10, 2026
Effective Sept. 10, 2026

Chapter 296 amends various provisions of the law to extend the deadline to submit a World Trade Center Notice to relevant retirement systems to Sept. 11, 2030.

Tier 6 Retirement Age and Employee Contribution Rate

Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2026 (S9008C/A10008C)
Specifically Part XX
Signed into law May 26, 2026
Effective April 1, 2026

This law amends various sections of the Retirement and Social Security Law to change the age at which NYSTRS members who first joined the System on or after April 1, 2012 (i.e., Tier 6) may retire without reduction of their retirement benefit from age 63 to age 58 with the completion of 30 or more years of service credit. This legislation is effective immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2026. 

This law also extends the period during which the calculation of the employee contribution rate for NYSTRS members with a date of membership on or after April 1, 2012, to be determined using only the member’s annual base wages and would not include any other additional pensionable compensation. The previous expiration date of this provision was fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. This provision is an extension for two additional school years (i.e., those years ending June 30, 2027 and June 30, 2028).