Illinois bill aims to automatically enroll Chicago public safety workers in retirement savings

The measure would require new police, firefighters, and municipal employees to be enrolled in deferred compensation plans.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:48pm

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A cinematic painting of a lone police officer or firefighter standing on a Chicago city street, the figure illuminated by warm, diagonal sunlight and surrounded by deep shadows, conceptually representing the financial security challenges facing public sector workers.A new Illinois law seeks to boost retirement savings for Chicago's public safety workers by automatically enrolling them in deferred compensation plans.Chicago Today

State Senator Robert Martwick has passed a measure in Illinois that would automatically enroll new Chicago police officers, firefighters, and municipal employees into deferred compensation retirement savings plans. Martwick, a Democrat from Chicago, says the goal is to make it easier for public safety workers to start saving for retirement, noting that 'the best time you can start saving for retirement is yesterday, but the second best time is today.'

Why it matters

Ensuring public safety workers are enrolled in retirement savings plans can help provide financial security for these critical employees, many of whom face physical and mental health challenges due to the demands of their jobs. Automatic enrollment helps remove barriers to saving and makes it more likely workers will build up retirement nest eggs.

The details

Martwick's measure would require all new Chicago police officers, firefighters, and other municipal employees to be automatically enrolled in deferred compensation retirement plans, which allow workers to set aside a portion of their paycheck on a pre-tax basis. The plans supplement traditional pensions, which have faced funding challenges in many cities. By making enrollment automatic, the goal is to boost participation rates and help workers start saving earlier in their careers.

  • The measure was passed by the Illinois state legislature in April 2026.

The players

Robert Martwick

An Illinois state senator representing parts of Chicago, Martwick sponsored the measure to automatically enroll public safety workers in retirement savings plans.

Chicago police officers, firefighters, and municipal employees

The new law would require automatic enrollment in deferred compensation plans for these public sector workers in the city of Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“'The best time you can start saving for retirement is yesterday, but the second best time is today.'”

— Robert Martwick, Illinois State Senator

What’s next

The measure will now go to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to make it easier for Chicago's public safety workers to save for retirement by automatically enrolling them in deferred compensation plans, removing a common barrier to retirement savings.