Legal & Legislative Committee Meeting Minutes
The meeting of the of the Legal & Legislative Committee of the Board of Trustees of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) convened on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
This meeting was held in person at Northern Trust in Chicago, IL, 60604.
The following trustees were present: Dr. Andriy Bodnaruk, Mr. Richard Figueroa, Dr. Fred Giertz, Mr. Scott Hendrie, Mr. Pranav Kothari, Mr. John Lyons, Dr. Steven Rock, Mr. Collin Van Meter (chair) and Mr. Antonio Vasquez.
Others present: Ms. Suzanne Mayer, Executive Director; Ms. Bianca Green, General Counsel; Mr. Albert Lee, Senior Associate General Counsel; Ms. Heather Kimmons, Associate Legal Counsel; Mr. Michael Schlachter, Chief Investment Officer; Ms. Nichole Hemming, Chief Human Resources Officer; Mr. Jefferey Saiger, Chief Strategy & Technology Officer; Ms. Tara Myers, Chief Financial Officer; Ms. Jackie Hohn, Chief Internal Auditor; Ms. Kristen Houch, Director of Legislative and Stakeholder Relations; Ms. Lisa Fink, Communications Manager; Ms. Amanda Baker, Organizational Strategy Analyst; Ms. Kelly Carson, Ms. Chelsea McCarty, and Ms. Annette Ackerman, Executive Assistants; Mr. Michael Calabrese of Foley & Lardner LLP; Mr. Kevin Noelke, Ms. Kristen Brundirks, and Ms. Amy Williams of Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company (GRS).
Legal & Legislative Committee roll call attendance was taken: Trustee Giertz, present; Trustee Lyons, present; Trustee Jiganti, absent; Trustee Pitman, absent; and Trustee Rock (chair), present.
Trustee Pitman arrived at the meeting at 11:23 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
Trustee Rock presented the minutes from the Legal & Legislative Committee meeting of September 11, 2025.
Trustee Lyons made the following motion:
- That the minutes from the September 11, 2025, Legal & Legislative Committee meeting be approved as presented.
Trustee Giertz seconded the motion which passed via all committee members present voting in favor of the motion.
Chairperson’s Report
Trustee Rock did not have a chairperson’s report.
Legislative Update
Ms. Kristen Houch provided a legislative update and discussed the results of an actuarial analysis of House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1937, which was performed by Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company. As part of legislative outreach and education efforts, she noted that SURS will send its annual letter to the Governor and the General Assembly in January that is based on updated System data as of June 30, 2025. Documents for the legislative update are titled, “Recent Actions,” “Cost Impact Draft,” “Pritzker Comments,” “2026 House Session Calendar,” “2026 Senate Session Calendar,” and “Draft Letter to the 104th GA.”
Rulemaking and Compliance Update
Status of Pending Rules
Mr. Albert Lee presented the document titled, “Rulemaking Update” regarding the status of pending administrative rules. Mr. Lee noted that the Board previously approved the filing of a proposed rulemaking. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) confirmed acceptance of Second Notice for that proposed rulemaking on November 17, 2025, and that JCAR will consider the rule at its hearing scheduled on December 17, 2025. If JCAR issues no objections to the proposed rulemaking during that hearing, SURS will formally adopt the rulemaking shortly thereafter.
Compliance Stoplight Report
Ms. Bianca Green reviewed the document titled, “October 2025 Stoplight Report,” that reflects SURS’ compliance with its reporting requirements.
Approval of January Regulatory Agenda
Ms. Green presented the document titled, “Draft Proposed January 2026 Regulatory Agenda” And she reminded the committee that a regulatory agenda must be filed with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office twice each year – in January and July.
Trustee Giertz made the following motion:
- That the proposed January 2026 Regulatory Agenda be approved as presented and be filed substantially in the form presented.
Trustee Lyons seconded the motion which passed via the following roll call vote:
Trustee Giertz – aye
Trustee Lyons – aye
Trustee Jiganti – absent
Trustee Pitman – aye
Trustee Rock – aye
Informational Items Not Requiring Board Action
- New Laws
- Comprehensive List
Public Comment
There were no public comments presented to the Legal & Legislative Committee.
Adjourn
There was no further business brought before the committee and Trustee Giertz moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lyons, and it passed via the following roll call vote:
Trustee Giertz – aye
Trustee Lyons – aye
Trustee Jiganti – absent
Trustee Pitman – aye
Trustee Rock – aye
Ms. Suzanne Mayer
Executive Director and Secretary, SURS Board of Trustees