Lawmakers who lead the panel that reviews the pension systems for public employees say there’s no appetite in the Iowa legislature to make immediate changes in pension plans, but they aren’t ruling out at least studying changes. Republican Senator Tim Kraayenbrink of Fort Dodge says the governor’s DOGE task force created a lot of chatter when it raised the idea of giving new employees the option of a pension or a 401K style investment plan.
But Kraayenbrink, who is an investment advisor, says lawmakers should not rule out at least studying changes.
Representative Charley Thomson of Charles City says it would take years of study before any changes would be implemented.
The legislature’s Public Retirement Systems Committee is met Tuesday and heard reports from pension system managers. Kris Rowley, the Dickinson County Treasurer — is vice chair of the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System Investment Board. Rowley says she hopes legislators keep IPERS as it is.
Matt Carver, an attorney with the School Administrators of Iowa, is chair of the IPERS Benefits Advisory Committee. He says the governor’s DOGE committee created quite a stir by discussing changes in IPERS benefits.
Carver is thanking Iowa House and Senate leaders who issued statements this fall saying the 2026 legislature would not vote to make changes in IPERS. One of out of every 10 Iowans is a member of IPERS and their pension is guaranteed for life. The system ranks among the top 10 state-run pension systems in the country. There are other pension systems for public employees in Iowa like judges and court system employees, peace officers and fire fighters.
