Defined benefit plan

Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) has introduced H.R. 2544, the Financial Freedom Act to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from constraining the range or type of investments that may be offered for participant directed retirement accounts. The proposal has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for further consideration.

The Department of Labor has issued Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2025-02 and accompanying single employer and multiemployer model notices updating notice requirements for defined benefit plans pursuant to Section 343 of SECURE 2.0. FAB 2025-02 uses a Q&A format to explain the methods that single employer defined benefit pension plans use to measure the value of assets, value of liabilities, and funding level.

Representatives David Kustoff (R-TN) and Judy Chu (D-CA) previously introduced H.R. 517 the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act. The bill would allow the governor of a state or territory to extend a federal tax filing deadline in the event of a state-declared emergency or disaster, which happens automatically for federally declared disasters.

Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and several co-sponsors have reintroduced the Women's Retirement Protection Act. Bill text for H.R. 2023 is now available.

Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI) has introduced H. R. 2067, the Protecting Americans’ Retirement Savings (PARSA) Act.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a Major Disaster Declaration on March 18, 2025, for Oklahoma Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, for the incident period of November 2, 2024 – November 5, 2024.

The IRS has announced the postponement of certain tax-related deadlines for victims of West Virginia severe storms, straight-lined winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides until November 3, 2025. The tax relief postpones various tax filing deadlines that began on February 15, 2025. Affected individuals and households who reside or have a business in Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming counties, as well as taxpayers with records located in the covered area that are needed to meet covered deadlines, qualify for relief. 

The IRS has issued Revenue Ruling 2025-08 which contains the applicable federal rates (AFR) for April 2025.

Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Patty Murray (D-WA) along with several other co-sponsors have reintroduced the Women's Retirement Protection Act in the Senate. According to a press release, the legislation aims to do the following.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2025-17, which contains updated guidance on factors used in certain defined benefit (DB) pension plan minimum funding and present value calculations. Updates include corporate bond monthly yield curve, the corresponding spot segment rates for February used under Internal Revenue Code Section (IRC Sec.) 417(e)(3), and the 24-month average segment rates for March under IRC Sec. 430(h)(2). IRC Sec. 417 contains definitions and special rules for minimum survivor annuity requirements in DB plans. IRC Sec. 430 addresses minimum funding standard for single-employer DB plans.