State officials held a ceremony about the signing of House Bill 3350, which gave cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees in Oklahoma pension plans, including teachers, firefighters, police, public employees and justices and judges. The bill was formally signed into law in May and took effect July 1.

HB 3350 bases COLAs on the number of years individuals have received retirement benefits from the state. Those retired for five years or more as of July 1 received a 4% increase in monthly pension payments. Those retired at least two years but not five got a 2% increase.

State Rep. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee,, the principal author of the bill said he’s fought for COLA legislation since being elected in 2016.

Frix pointed out that it has been 12 years since these former state employees received a COLA.