Lawmakers' Pay Loophole Closed by Bill Advancement.

Texas lawmakers are pushing to eliminate a loophole that allows long-serving legislators to increase their annual pay by $140,000 by dipping into their pension while continuing to draw a state salary. However, the bill would "grandfather" in lawmakers who have already opted into the benefit from the Texas Employees Retirement System. The double-dipping provision was introduced in the final days of the 2021 session into pension legislation that was aimed at tackling a $15 billion hole in the Employees Retirement System.