A new bill filed by State Rep. Jeff Zenger in the North Carolina House seeks to enable qualified law enforcement and correctional officers to buy extra service credit toward their retirement benefits, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 272 on March 4 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill, known as The Sergeant Mickey Hutchinson Act, allows law enforcement, probation/parole, and correctional officers with an Advanced Law Enforcement or Corrections Certificate from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission or the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission to purchase up to four years of creditable service in the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System or the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System. This purchase is contingent upon holding a minimum of five years in service and is made by paying a lump sum equivalent to the total liability increase for the retirement system plus an administrative fee. The bill allows employers to cover some or all costs of the purchase. This act is set to become effective July 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. proposed the most bills (18) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Zenger, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 74th House district, replacing previous state representative Wes Schollander.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Zenger, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Allen Chesser, and Charles W. Miller | HB 272 | 03/04/2025 | The Sergeant Mickey Hutchens Act. |
| Jeff Zenger, Julia C. Howard, and Ted Davis, Jr. | HB 264 | 03/03/2025 | Wire Fraud Prevention Act. |
| Jeff Zenger, Mitchell S. Setzer, and Sam Watford | HB 247 | 02/27/2025 | Underground Safety Revisions. |
| Jeff Zenger, Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, and Neal Jackson | HB 133 | 02/17/2025 | NC Farmland and Military Protection Act. |
| Jeff Zenger and Donny Lambeth | HB 82 | 02/10/2025 | Study Commission for LEA Size. |
| Jeff Zenger, Donnie Loftis, Erin Paré, and Steve Tyson | HB 56 | 02/04/2025 | Publish Central Office Employment Information. |
| Jeff Zenger, Donny Lambeth, Kyle Hall, and Larry W. Potts | HB 30 | 02/03/2025 | SchCalFlex/WS-F,Stokes,Davdsn/Aug11 & Assmnts. |
| Jeff Zenger, Donny Lambeth, Kyle Hall, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 34 | 02/03/2025 | Establish Larceny of Mail Offense. |
| Jeff Zenger, Erin Paré, Kelly E. Hastings, and Paul Scott | HB 15 | 01/29/2025 | Support Private Property Rights. |
