The Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement Board has submitted eight legislative recommendations for the 2025-2026 session aimed at improving the state's retirement system. Key proposals include establishing a special commission to evaluate retirement credit purchases, making changes to pension forfeiture laws to include specific criminal offenses, and clarifying eligibility for service buybacks for educators in publicly funded non-public schools. Additionally, the recommendations seek to extend the opportunity for teachers to purchase service credits for teaching in all U.S. territories, define supplemental pay during workers' compensation as wages for retirement calculations, and establish penalties for employers who fail to comply with pension reporting requirements.

Other notable recommendations include a technical correction to the interest charged on refund buybacks and extending membership rights to individuals on authorized unpaid leave for over a year under family and medical leave laws. These legislative changes aim to enhance the sustainability and fairness of the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System and ensure that educators receive appropriate benefits for their service.