| Alabama |
Benefits are contractually protected for vested employees; assets must be held for exclusive benefit of retirement system. |
Ala. Const., art. I, §22; art. V, §138.03 |
| Alaska |
Membership in employee retirement systems is contractual; accrued benefits may not be impaired. |
Alaska Const., art. XII, §7 |
| Arizona |
Membership in a public retirement system is contractual; benefits shall not be diminished or impaired. |
Ariz. Const., art. XXIX, §1; art. II, §25 |
| Arkansas |
Pension rights protected as contractual obligations once vested; may not be reduced retroactively. |
Ark. Const., art. II, §17 |
| California |
Pension benefits are contractual; vested rights protected from unreasonable impairment. |
Cal. Const., art. I, §9 |
| Colorado |
Employees have contractual rights in pensions but legislature may alter future benefits. |
Colo. Const., art. II, §11 |
| Connecticut |
Pension benefits form part of contractual employment relationship protected by state constitution. |
Conn. Const., art. I, §1 |
| Delaware |
Public pension benefits protected as contract rights; impairment subject to scrutiny. |
Del. Const., art. I, §7 |
| Florida |
Contractual protection recognized once rights vest; legislature may amend prior to vesting. |
Fla. Const., art. I, §10 |
| Georgia |
No explicit constitutional provision; contractual analysis applies to vested benefits. |
Ga. Const., art. I, §1, para. X |
| Hawaii |
Membership constitutes contractual relationship; accrued benefits cannot be impaired. |
Haw. Const., art. XVI, §2 |
| Idaho |
Pension benefits contractual upon vesting; subject to limited modification. |
Idaho Const., art. I, §16 |
| Illinois |
Membership in public retirement system is contractual; benefits may not be diminished or impaired. |
Ill. Const., art. XIII, §5 |
| Indiana |
Contractual protection recognized for vested pension benefits; no impairment allowed. |
Ind. Const., art. I, §24 |
| Iowa |
Retirement benefits protected by contractual principles after vesting. |
Iowa Const., art. I, §21 |
| Kansas |
Public pension benefits contractual upon participation; subject to modification of future accruals. |
Kan. Const., Bill of Rights §10 |
| Kentucky |
Pension rights contractual; legislature cannot diminish vested benefits. |
Ky. Const., §19 |
| Louisiana |
Accrued benefits guaranteed; assets held for exclusive benefit of members. |
La. Const., art. X, §29 |
| Maine |
Pension benefits contractual once vested; impairment limited by federal and state clauses. |
Me. Const., art. I, §11 |
| Maryland |
Membership creates contractual relationship; benefits cannot be reduced retroactively. |
Md. Const., Decl. of Rights, art. 24 |
| Massachusetts |
Pension benefits protected as contract rights; cannot be impaired after vesting. |
Mass. Const., pt. 1, art. X |
| Michigan |
Accrued benefits not subject to diminishment or impairment. |
Mich. Const., art. IX, §24 |
| Minnesota |
Pension benefits contractual after vesting; legislature may change future accruals. |
Minn. Const., art. I, §11 |
| Mississippi |
Retirement benefits protected by contract principles. |
Miss. Const., art. 3, §16 |
| Missouri |
Vested pension benefits contractual; not subject to impairment. |
Mo. Const., art. I, §13 |
| Montana |
Membership constitutes contractual relationship; accrued benefits may not be impaired. |
Mont. Const., art. II, §31 |
| Nebraska |
Pension rights contractual; benefits protected upon vesting. |
Neb. Const., art. I, §16 |
| Nevada |
Contractual protection extends to accrued pension benefits. |
Nev. Const., art. I, §15 |
| New Hampshire |
Public pension contractual once vested; impairment prohibited. |
N.H. Const., pt. 1, art. 23 |
| New Jersey |
Statutory recognition of contractual rights; legislature may not diminish vested benefits. |
N.J. Const., art. IV, §7, para. 3 |
| New Mexico |
Retirement benefits contractual; protected against impairment. |
N.M. Const., art. II, §19 |
| New York |
Membership in retirement system contractual; benefits not to be diminished or impaired. |
N.Y. Const., art. V, §7 |
| North Carolina |
Pension benefits protected as contract rights after vesting. |
N.C. Const., art. I, §19 |
| North Dakota |
Contractual rights recognized in vested pension benefits. |
N.D. Const., art. I, §18 |
| Ohio |
Pensions contractual after vesting; legislature may alter non-vested benefits. |
Ohio Const., art. II, §28 |
| Oklahoma |
Public retirement benefits contractual upon vesting. |
Okla. Const., art. II, §15 |
| Oregon |
Contractual relationship created by participation; benefits may not be impaired. |
Or. Const., art. I, §21 |
| Pennsylvania |
Membership contractual; accrued benefits may not be impaired. |
Pa. Const., art. I, §17 |
| Rhode Island |
Contractual rights in pension benefits recognized; limited flexibility for reform. |
R.I. Const., art. I, §12 |
| South Carolina |
Contractual protection of vested benefits; limited prospective modification allowed. |
S.C. Const., art. I, §4 |
| South Dakota |
Retirement benefits contractual upon vesting. |
S.D. Const., art. VI, §12 |
| Tennessee |
Pension rights contractual; vested benefits cannot be impaired. |
Tenn. Const., art. I, §20 |
| Texas |
Accrued benefits in public retirement systems protected by constitution. |
Tex. Const., art. XVI, §66 |
| Utah |
Pension benefits contractual after vesting; impairment prohibited. |
Utah Const., art. I, §18 |
| Vermont |
Contractual rights recognized in vested pension benefits. |
Vt. Const., ch. I, art. 10 |
| Virginia |
Vested rights protected; assets held for exclusive benefit of members. |
Va. Const., art. X, §11 |
| Washington |
Membership contractual; benefits cannot be impaired once vested. |
Wash. Const., art. I, §23 |
| West Virginia |
Contractual protection applies to vested pension benefits. |
W. Va. Const., art. III, §4 |
| Wisconsin |
Pension rights contractual and protected from impairment. |
Wis. Const., art. I, §12 |
| Wyoming |
Contractual protection recognized for vested retirement benefits. |
Wyo. Const., art. I, §35 |
