Click below to review information on states with mandatory and voluntary retirement programs, as well as which states have begun the legislative process and which have no plan.
California
Status: Implemented; phased deadlines for registration
Coverage: Employers with at least one employee that don’t offer a retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline:
• 5+ employees: Initial deadline has passed
• 1-4 employees: 12/31/25
Penalties: Up to $750 per eligible employee
Colorado
Status: Implemented; registration is open
Coverage: Employers with 5 or more employees that have been in business at least 2 years and do not already offer a qualified retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline:
• 5+ employees: Initial deadline has passed
Penalties: Up to $100 per eligible employee, capped at $5,000 per year
Connecticut
Status: Implemented; registration is open
Coverage: Employers with 5 or more employees that don’t offer a retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline:
• 5+ employees: Initial deadline has passed
Penalties: Refer to program details
Delaware
Status: Implemented; registration is open
Coverage: Employers with 5 or more employees and don’t offer a qualified retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline: Deadline has passed
Penalties: Refer to program details
Hawaii
Participation: Mandatory; employers must notify employees of their right to opt into the program
Status: Legislation passed
Coverage: Employers with 1 or more employees who have not offered a retirement plan in the past 2 years
Plan type: Auto-IRA*
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline: Implementation deadline is to be determined
Penalties: Up to $500 per violation to a maximum of $5,000 per calendar year
* The Hawaii program is a variation on the auto-IRA model. Eligible employers must notify their employees about the program and, if employees choose to opt into the program, employers must then facilitate contributions to the program.
Illinois
Status: Implemented; registration is open
Coverage: Employers with 5 or more employees that have been in business at least 2 years and do not already offer a retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline:
• 5+ employees: Initial deadline has passed
Penalties: Fines and penalties may apply
Maine
Status: Implemented; registration is open
Coverage: Employers who’ve been in business for at least 2 years, have 5 or more employees and don’t offer a qualified retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline:
• 5+ employees: Initial deadline has passed
Penalties: Refer to program details
Maryland
Status: Implemented; registration is open
Coverage: Employers who have at least 1 employee, use an automated payroll system and have been in operation for at least 2 years
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline: Registration is open for all employers
Penalties: Only employers who register will qualify for a waiver of the $300 annual filing fee for Maryland businesses
Minnesota
Status: Legislation passed
Coverage: Employers with at least 5 employees that have been in business for at least 12 months and don’t offer a retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Deadline: Implementation deadline is to be determined; program not expected to open for enrollment until first quarter 2026
Penalties: To be determined
Nevada
Status: Legislation passed
Coverage: Employers with at least 5 employees that have been in business for at least 3 years and don’t offer a qualified retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Deadline: Implementation deadline is to be determined; program expected to begin by 7/1/2025
Penalties: To be determined
New Jersey
Status: Legislation passed
Coverage: Employers with 25 or more employees that have been in business for at least 2 years and don't offer a qualified retirement savings plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline: Initial deadlines have passed
Penalties: Refer to program details
New York
Status: Legislation passed
Coverage: Employers with 10 or more employees that have been in business for at least 2 years and have not offered a qualified retirement plan in the preceding 2 years
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline: Implementation deadline to be determined
Penalties: To be determined
Oregon
Status: Implemented; registration is open
Coverage: Employers that do not currently offer a retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline:
• 1+ employee: Initial deadline has passed
Penalties: Refer to program details
Rhode Island
Status: The program is expected to launch in the spring of 2025
Coverage: Employers with 5 or more employees and don’t provide a qualified retirement retirement savings plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline: To be determined
Penalties: The program will be monitoring businesses for compliance and will try to assist businesses in getting enrolled if needed
Vermont
Status: Registration is open
Coverage: Employers with 5 or more employees that have been in business for at least 2 years and don’t offer a qualified retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline:
• March 1, 2025
Penalties: Refer to program details
Virginia
Status: Implemented; registration is open
Coverage: Employers with 25 or more eligible employees that have been in business for at least 2 years and don’t offer a retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA
Employer contributions: Not permitted
Deadline:
• Initial deadline has passed
Penalties: Up to $200 per employee annually
Washington
Status: Legislation passed
Coverage: Employers that have been in business for at least 2 years, whose employees worked a combined 10,400 hours or more in the previous year and don’t offer a qualified retirement plan
Plan type: Auto-IRA*
Employer contributions: Not permitted*
Deadline: To be determined; program to begin no later than July 1, 2027, and may be implemented in phases
Penalties: Up to $500 per violation, not to be levied prior to 2030
* Washington also offers a voluntary retirement plan marketplace with state-approved plans for employers with fewer than 100 employees, the Washington Small Business Retirement Marketplace. Employer contributions are permitted in certain plans available on the marketplace.
Details for each state are compiled from Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives as of June 30, 2024, and from state websites as of November 22, 2024.
Massachusetts
Status: Legislation passed; registration is open
Coverage: Non-profit employers with 20 or fewer employees
Plan type: Multiple Employee Plan — 401(k)
Employer contributions: Permitted but not required
Deadline: Not applicable
Missouri
Status: Legislation passed; a registration deadline has yet to be determined
Coverage: Employers with 50 or fewer employees
Plan type: Multiple Employee Plan — 401(k)
Employer contributions: Permitted but not required
Deadline: Not applicable
New Mexico
Status: Legislation passed; the program is not currently operational and has been delayed
Coverage: Any employer with its primary place of business in New Mexico
Plan type: Two options: enroll employees in the state-sponsored voluntary IRA, or select a plan from the New Mexico retirement plan marketplace
Employer contributions: Not permitted in voluntary IRA. Permitted in some marketplace plans
Deadline: Not applicable
Details for each state are compiled from Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives as of June 30, 2024, and from state websites as of November 22, 2024.
Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennslyvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Details for each state are compiled from Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives as of June 30, 2024, and from state websites as of November 22, 2024.
Alabama, South Dakota
Details for each state are compiled from Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives as of June 30, 2024, and from state websites as of November 22, 2024.
