July 2026 Board Summary
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees met Thursday July 16, 2026, in person at TRS headquarters at 4655 Mueller Blvd in Austin. View board presentations by clicking on July’s board meeting materials. View video links.
Watch prior meeting videos on the TRS website’s Board Meeting materials page. Scroll down that page to the Archives section and click on the options at the right of the meeting dates: “Recordings, Summary, Minutes, Agenda and Board Books.”
Committee Highlights
Benefits Update
Trustees approved a recommendation from Health Division staff to lower TRS-Care Medicare Advantage premiums by 27% for the next plan year beginning January. This will save that retiree group between $300 and $600 in annual premiums. The reduction in premiums are due to the partnership with the Texas Legislature and Office of the Governor, federal changes, and TRS' strong financial management of the TRS-Care fund. This follows a ~45% rate reduction in 2025.
The TRS Board also unanimously adopted a limited time enrollment opportunity for Medicare eligible retirees. The enrollment window will be open from Oct. 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028, to allow those eligible to take advantage of lower rates (see board book from page 55).
Also noteworthy, premiums for TRS-Care Standard (for under-65 retirees), the TRS health plan for those who are not Medicare eligible, premiums will remain unchanged for the ninth consecutive year. Plan deductibles are rising slightly to align with IRS guidelines.
TRS-Care dental and vision premiums will remain unchanged for the new plan year.
And beginning in plan year 2028, new employers entering TRS-ActiveCare will be subject to phased-in, risk-based ratings based on their educational region. This is meant to help maintain stable and competitive pricing for all plan members.
The Chief Benefit Officer provided trustees with her quarterly update. By late July, members who call the contact center will begin experiencing a natural language IVR system replacing the menu-based experience. Also, enhancements to the online retirement process launched on the MyTRS portal in late June support more straight-through processing, improved beneficiary designation capabilities and additional retirement-related forms.
Fund Facts
There are currently ~160,000 participants in the TRS-Care Medicare Advantage plan
What the Board Discussed
New Trustees Take Seats
The board welcomed the addition of Dr. Pete Pape and Dan West to their ranks; each is set to serve six-year terms. Trustees also elected trustee Elvis Williams to serve as vice chair as part of several new trustee assignments.
Deputy Director’s Report
The Deputy Director updated trustees on the evolution of TRS’ regional offices. The tentative opening of an office in the Rio Grande Valley area is January 2028. Staff received approval to seek an alternative location since the selected property is no longer available (see page 52 of the board book). Additionally, a new location is pending for the nearly five-year-old El Paso office.
Trustees heard why the Pension Funding Policy was triggered: This policy requires a pension’s projected unfunded liability or UAAL (the gap between promised benefits and current assets in the fund) to decline over a five-year period. TRS’ actuary, GRS has reported that public education pay increases are impacting TRS’ UAAL (member salary levels translate into higher annuities when those educators begin drawing their pensions).
The next TRS of Texas board meeting is planned for Thursday and Friday, September 17 & 18, 2026 in person at our Austin headquarters in the Mueller Community. Access all board materials online, including agendas, board books and links to webcasts.