State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz continues to fight for Michigan Department of Corrections employees and retirees. This week, she reintroduced legislation to eliminate the pension tax paid by retired state corrections officers.

“State corrections officers do an incredibly tough job — one that is physically demanding, mentally exhausting, and often dangerous,” said Schmaltz, R-Jackson. “They dedicate their careers to protecting the public, yet when they retire, they’re hit with an unfair tax that other first responders don’t have to pay. That’s wrong, and I won’t stop pushing until this injustice is corrected.”

In 2023, the Legislature approved a tax relief plan to help retirees throughout Michigan. The plan allowed retired police, fire, and corrections personnel to fully deduct their pensions from state income taxes. However, the policy only applied to corrections officers employed by county sheriffs, leaving out those who served in state prisons.

Schmaltz introduced House Bill 4201 to ensure that Michigan Department of Corrections retirees receive the same tax relief as their local counterparts. The measure would fully exempt their pensions from the state income tax.

“Our state corrections officers have spent decades working long shifts in stressful and often dangerous environments,” Schmaltz said. “They deserve the same financial security in retirement that other first responders receive. We must fix this disparity and show these men and women the respect they have earned.”

She introduced similar legislation in 2023, but it was never brought up for a vote. Now that control of the House has changed, Schmaltz is hopeful that the bill will finally get the attention it deserves.

House Bill 4201 was referred to the House Finance Committee for consideration.