HB 1403 — Deferred compensation auto-enrollment

HB 1403 (2026 Regular Session), filed January 9, 2026 by Representative Salzman, would have authorized automatic enrollment in government deferred compensation plans under s. 112.215, Florida Statutes — the Government Employees' Deferred Compensation Plan, a Section 457 plan. The bill would have permitted an automatic-enrollment arrangement with a default contribution rate, periodic reenrollment of employees who had opted out, periodic resetting of contribution rates, a default investment option, and employee rights to change or stop contributions. Counties, municipalities, political subdivisions, and constitutional county officers could have adopted auto-enrollment for their deferred compensation programs; the state plan could have adopted it only with the Legislature's approval. The identical Senate companion, SB 1018 (Senator Truenow), died in the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee. HB 1403 died in the House Government Operations Subcommittee when the regular session ended on March 13, 2026.

A Section 457 deferred compensation plan is a voluntary, supplemental savings vehicle that is separate from the FRS Pension Plan and Investment Plan. It does not change FRS benefits, contribution rates, vesting, or creditable service. The bill also cited s. 110.114 and s. 112.171, F.S. (employee wage deductions), for the payroll mechanics of automatic contributions.

What this would change in PensionForge's projections: Nothing. PensionForge projects FRS Pension Plan and Investment Plan benefits. Deferred compensation (457) savings are a separate, supplemental account that PensionForge does not project, so automatic enrollment would not affect FRS projections.

Current engine behavior: PensionForge has no deferred-compensation module; FRS projections are independent of any 457-plan activity.