Mapping State Retirement Programs
Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives provides a color-coded map of where U.S. state-led retirement programs stand today.
There are currently 20 U.S. states that have enacted retirement saving programs for private sector workers, with more in the policy pipeline to potentially come online next year, according to Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives.
When these programs first started coming online—OregonSaves was enacted in 2015 and launched in the second half of 2017—the retirement industry had some trepidation about state-run plans taking over from private offerings. But early research has indicated that, rather than supplant private defined contribution plans, state mandates may actually be further bolstering private uptake.
Even so, some industry groups remain wary of states wading too deeply into employer-sponsored plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
The ERISA Industry Committee, a nonprofit representing benefits administrators across the country, has brought numerous lawsuits against states for, in part, violating ERISA’s preemption rule, which states that ERISA “shall supersede any and all State laws insofar as they may now or hereafter relate to any employee benefit plan.”
Meanwhile, the march of more states adding state-facilitated retirement plans continues. Last week, Rhode Island announced it will pilot its auto-IRA program, in partnership with Vestwell, in spring 2025.
As part of this month’s special coverage, PLANADVISER turned to Georgetown for a visual update of where state-run and facilitated retirement plans stand today and where they may go in the future.
2024 State Program Information Map
Legislative proposal and/or study commissions in 2024
Auto IRA*
MEP (Voluntary)*
Combination (Voluntary) – Payroll Deduction IRA and Marketplace*
Auto-IRA and Marketplace*
Recent state efforts (2012-2024)
No recent state efforts
WA
ME
MT
ND
MN
OR
RI
ID
SD
WI
NY
CT
WY
MI
VT
NH
IA
PA
NE
NV
OH
NJ
MA
IN
UT
IL
CO
WV
CA
DE
MD
VA
KS
MO
KY
DC
NC
TN
OK
AZ
NM
AR
SC
AL
GA
MS
LA
TX
AK
FL
HI
WA
ME
MT
ND
MN
OR
RI
ID
SD
WI
NY
CT
WY
MI
VT
NH
IA
PA
NE
NV
OH
NJ
MA
IN
UT
IL
CO
WV
CA
DE
MD
VA
KS
MO
KY
DC
NC
TN
OK
AZ
NM
AR
SC
AL
GA
MS
LA
TX
AK
FL
HI
WA
ME
MT
ND
MN
OR
ID
SD
WI
NY
WY
MI
VT
IA
PA
NE
NV
OH
NJ
IN
UT
IL
CO
WV
CA
DE
VA
KS
MO
KY
DC
NC
TN
OK
AZ
RI
NM
AR
SC
AL
GA
CT
MS
LA
TX
NH
AK
MA
FL
MD
HI
WA
ME
MT
ND
MN
OR
ID
SD
WI
NY
WY
MI
VT
IA
PA
NE
NV
OH
NJ
IN
UT
IL
CO
WV
CA
DE
VA
KS
MO
KY
DC
NC
TN
OK
AZ
RI
NM
AR
SC
AL
GA
CT
MS
LA
TX
NH
AK
MA
FL
MD
HI
*Programs enacted (2012 – present)
Source: Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives