What changed between these versions
A substantive modification. The bill's short title was slightly changed, and a new Section 4, "Pension Payment Acceleration," was added. This new section introduces a specific change to premium due dates for single employer plans under ERISA for plan years commencing after December 31, 2035, and before January 1, 2037.
Overview
A handful of changes, primarily one major addition and one minor modification. · v2 expands the bill's scope by adding a new, unrelated provision concerning pension payment acceleration, while making a minor clarification to the short title.
The most significant change in v2 is the addition of Section 4, which introduces a new provision accelerating premium due dates for single employer pension plans for specific plan years. Additionally, the short title of the Act has been slightly modified from "Railroad Retirement Board Stability Act of 2026" to "Railroad Retirement Board Stability Act." Sections 2 and 3, which establish the Railroad Retirement Board Administrative Account and mandate GAO reports, remain substantively unchanged.
Major additions
This new section, "Pension Payment Acceleration," modifies the premium due date for single employer plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Specifically, for plan years commencing after December 31, 2035, and before January 1, 2037, the premium due date is changed to the fifteenth day of the ninth calendar month that begins on or after the first day of the premium payment year.
This addition introduces a specific, time-limited change to the financial obligations of single employer pension plans, potentially affecting their cash flow and administrative processes during the specified period. It expands the bill's scope beyond railroad retirement and unemployment insurance.
Modifications
This is a minor, cosmetic change to the official name of the Act, removing a specific year reference. It has no direct operative impact on the substance of the bill's provisions.
Before
The Act was to be cited as the "Railroad Retirement Board Stability Act of 2026".
After
The Act is to be cited as the "Railroad Retirement Board Stability Act".
Scope
Meaningful expansion or narrowing — Changes are concentrated in the short title and the addition of a new, distinct section. — v2 introduces a new policy direction by including a provision related to ERISA pension payments, which is separate from the original bill's focus on the Railroad Retirement Board's administrative and IT modernization efforts. — The new Section 4 does not directly interact with or modify the existing provisions related to the Railroad Retirement Board. It introduces a separate, distinct policy.
Impact analysis
Single employer pension plans
These plans will experience an acceleration of their premium payment obligations for a defined period.
For plan years commencing after December 31, 2035, and before January 1, 2037, their premium due date is accelerated to the fifteenth day of the ninth calendar month.