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COLA for State Retirees and Deaf/Blind Services On Tap for Legislature

AARP

Published April 30, 2026

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The Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) of the Wyoming Legislature will meet April 30 and May 1 in Rawlins. Retired state employees and those who struggle with hearing and sight should take note.

The committee will determine whether the state legislature should consider offering a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to state employees. The last COLA came 18 years ago and before 2008, COLAs were relatively common. Changes in the law around providing COLAs require that Wyoming’s retirement funds be over 100% funded before (and after) a COLA is awarded unless the Legislature offers a specific plan or bill to award a COLA. As the JAC will hear on May 1, there are currently two retirement accounts (Judicial Retirement Account and Fire A) that are funded at better than 100% and could probably withstand a COLA.

To testify on this issue, click here and register your name and topic with the Legislative Services Office..

The main state retiree plan is funded at 78-83% and isn’t projected to exceed 100% funding until 2044. The Law Enforcement Fund doesn’t anticipate 100% funding until 2046. COLAs don’t come cheap. A 1% increase for the state’s 36,000 pensioners would cost $82 million. Therefore, expect the discussion to center around ideas such as a 13th check each year, or a staggered COLA for those who have been retired the longest.

“This topic has not been taken up by the Legislature in a number of years and we would very much like to hear from the community,” Tim Salazar told AARP this week. Salazar is the Senate Chair of the Joint Appropriations Committee.

The formation of a State Commission for the Deaf and Blind is something the Wyoming Legislature wants to learn more about. Right now, three different agencies deliver services to those who struggle with their sight or hearing. The Legislature wants to know whether there are service gaps and whether a commission composed of agency representatives and/or the public would be beneficial to those who need services.

To testify on this issue, click here and register your name and topic with the Legislative Services Office..

For more information on either topic, click https://wyoleg.gov/Calendar/20260401/Meeting?type=committee&id=15105.