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HB1312 • 2026

Retirement benefits/death

Paying state retirement benefits until the end of the month in which the retiree or beneficiary dies.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Fitzgibbon, Representative Reeves, Representative Couture, Representative Davis, Representative Paul, Representative Simmons, Representative Reed, Representative Macri, Representative Tharinger, Representative Donaghy, Representative Scott
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
H Approps
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Retirement benefits/death

Retirement benefits/death

What This Bill Does

  • Retirement benefits/death

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 House

    By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

Official Summary Text

Retirement benefits/death

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to paying state retirement benefits until the end 1
of the month in which the retiree or beneficiary dies; adding a new 2
section to chapter 41.50 RCW; creating a new section; and providing 3
an effective date. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that when a retiree 6
or beneficiary of state retirement benefits dies, the department of 7
retirement systems only pays benefits up to the precise date of that 8
individual's death. If the retiree or beneficiary has already 9
received payment for that month by the time the death occurs, the 10
department of retirement systems requires repayment of any benefits 11
received after the death. For example, if death occurs on the 25th 12
day of a 30-day month, the beneficiary's estate may be required to 13
refund five days' worth of benefits.14
The legislature intends to change that practice by paying 15
benefits until the end of the month in which the death occurs.16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 41.50 17
RCW to read as follows: 18
(1) When a retiree or beneficiary under chapter 2.10, 2.12, 19
41.26, 41.32, 41.35, 41.37, 41.40, or 43.43 RCW dies, the department 20
Z-0161.1
HOUSE BILL 1312
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Fitzgibbon, Reeves, Couture, Davis, Paul, Simmons,
Reed, Macri, Tharinger, Donaghy, and Scott; by request of Select
Committee on Pension Policy
Read first time 01/15/25. Referred to Committee on Appropriations.
p. 1 HB 1312
must continue paying benefits until the end of the month in which 1
death occurred. Survivor benefits, when applicable, will begin on the 2
first day of the following month. 3
(2) This section applies to any and all benefit payments issued 4
by the department including optional annuities. 5
(3) The department must continue to require the beneficiary, 6
survivor, or estate of the deceased to refund any benefit payments 7
made following the month of death. 8
(4) This section applies prospectively only and not 9
retroactively. No beneficiary, survivor, or estate that has been 10
subject to repayment of benefits before January 1, 2026, has a right 11
to receive a refund of those repayments. 12
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act takes effect January 1, 2026.13
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1312