This amendment clarifies that salary increases earned by a full-time firefighter after their divorce, which depend on passing specific written and practical tests, cannot be counted as shared property for the ex-spouse.
Louisiana2026Enacted
HB1017
Firefighter Retirement Pay After Divorce
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:26 AM
In one sentence
This law stops courts from counting certain pay increases earned by full-time firefighters after their divorce when calculating a former spouse's share of retirement benefits.
What it does
- Excludes specific salary increases for full-time firefighters that happen after the marriage ends, but only if those raises depend on passing both a written exam and a physical work test.
- Prevents these qualifying post-divorce pay increases from being included in the calculation of a former spouse's portion of community property.
Who it affects
- Full-time firefighters in Louisiana who earn higher pay after their marriage ends, provided that raise required passing exams and tests.
- Former spouses involved in dividing community property during or after a divorce case involving such firefighters.
- Courts calculating how to split retirement benefits between ex-spouses.
Limits and unknowns
- This law only applies to pay increases earned after the marriage has legally ended.
- It does not apply unless the raise was conditioned on passing both a written examination and a working test.
- The rule takes effect on June 25, 2026.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Community Property
- Assets and earnings considered owned by both spouses while married, which are divided if the marriage ends.
- Earnable Compensation
- The salary or wages a firefighter earns that count toward their retirement benefits.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
RETIREMENT/FIREFIGHTERS: Prohibits certain post-divorce earnable compensation in the Firefighters' Retirement System from being included in a former spouse's portion of community property (EN NO IMPACT APV)
Official activity
Bill history
- Effective date: 06/25/2026.H
- Becomes Act No. 968 without the Governor's signature.H
- Sent to the Governor for executive approval.H
- Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.S
- Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.H
- Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.H
- Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays.S
- Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.S
- Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 98, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.H
- Scheduled for floor debate on 06/01/2026.H
- Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.H
- Conference committee report received.S
- Notice of Senate conferees appointed.H
- Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.S
- House conferees appointed: Kerner, Turner, and Farnum.H
- Senate conference committee members appointed: Miller, Luneau, and Price.S
- Notice House rejected the Senate amendments.S
- Read by title, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0, Senate amendments rejected, conference committee appointment pending.H
- Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.H
- Received from the Senate with amendments.H
Changes
Amendments
6 stored
This amendment explains that a new law will stop certain pay increases earned by firefighters after their divorce from being counted when calculating what money goes to an ex-spouse.
This amendment explains that a new law will stop certain pay increases earned by firefighters after their divorce from being counted when calculating what money goes to an ex-spouse.
This amendment records a vote where the House of Representatives rejected all changes proposed by the Senate to Bill HB 1017.
This amendment updates the bill by correcting legal references and clarifying that it applies specifically to full-time firefighters instead of general members.
This amendment updates the bill by correcting legal references and changing terms from 'member' to 'full-time firefighter' or 'firefighter'.