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Senate bill · S6258 (2025-26)

Allows for NYSTRS retirees to change their retirement plan beneficiary to a spouse at any time either prior to or after retirement

Latest action May 29, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A3416, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

James Skoufis

State Senator, District 42 · Democratic

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Summary

Allows for NYSTRS retirees to change their retirement plan beneficiary to a spouse at any time either prior to or after retirement.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Education Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to authorize a member of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) who has retired for service, or who has been retired for disability, may designate their spouse as a benefi- ciary at any time prior to or after effective retirement.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Civil Service And Pensions · New York State Senate

Also referred to Governmental Employees · New York State Assembly.

The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

According to national census data, in 2020 there were at least 55.8 million Americans over the age of 65, which is the fastest increase of such population since 1890. Americans are living longer under better conditions; subsequently, changes to State law are required in order to ensure the proper statutory reflection of this demographic change. Currently, a member enrolled in the NYSTRS is not allowed to designate a spouse as a beneficiary after they retire, and may only file an option selection change or withdrawal of an option selection previously filed no later than thirty days following retirement. All situations are different, however, many retired members of the NYSTRS enter a marriage or divorce after their retirement. As such, this change should be accom- panied with the options to allow retirees to appoint their spouse as a beneficiary, and render a retirement benefit decision, made either years or a few decades ago, to be altered based on the circumstances. Retired members of the NYSTRS should have the peace of mind that chang- ing circumstances will not hinder their ability to choose the retirement option that works best for them and their spouse. This bill would authorize a member of the NYSTRS who has retired for service, or who has been retired for disability, may designate their spouse as a beneficiary at any time prior to or after effective retirement.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMay 29, 2026Result: passed

    (58) (0) (0) (5)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Civil Service And Pensions

    Senate Civil Service And PensionsJan 28, 2026Result: passed

    (7) (0) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 6, 2025Result: passed

    (53) (0) (0) (10)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Civil Service And Pensions

    Senate Civil Service And PensionsApr 8, 2025Result: passed

    (7) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

  1. May 29, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. May 29, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. May 29, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES

    NY Assembly

  4. Feb 3, 2026

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  5. Jan 29, 2026

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

Show full history (12 earlier events)
  1. Jan 28, 2026

    1ST Report CAL.197

    1ST REPORT CAL.197

    NY Senate

  2. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  3. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

    NY Senate

  4. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES

    NY Assembly

  5. Jun 6, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  6. Jun 6, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  7. Jun 6, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES

    NY Assembly

  8. Apr 10, 2025

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  9. Apr 9, 2025

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

  10. Apr 8, 2025

    1ST Report CAL.642

    1ST REPORT CAL.642

    NY Senate

  11. Mar 7, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

    NY Senate

  12. Jan 27, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES

    NY Assembly