First class city police, firefighter retirement changes approved

Retirement contribution rates for certain Nebraska police officers will change under a bill given final approval April 3.

Under LB179, introduced by Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney, the retirement contribution rate for police officers in first class cities will increase from the current 7% of their monthly salary to 9%, beginning Oct. 1, 2025. First class cities are those with a population between 501 and 100,000.

The bill also will result in a corresponding increase from 7% to 9% in the contribution rate that first class cities pay into the plan.

Included in the measure are provisions of Omaha Sen. Margo Juarez’s LB461. Those provisions allow firefighters in first class cities the option of receiving the value of their retirement benefits in one or more partial payments in any amount and frequency of their choosing, beginning Oct. 1, 2025.

Lawmakers passed LB179 on a 47-0 vote.