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Idaho House approves HB26 to join ABLE savings consortium for people with disabilities
Summary
The House passed House Bill 26 on Feb. 10, 2025, to allow Idaho to offer Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts through a national consortium; supporters said the program will cost the state nothing while opponents raised concerns about an advisory board and language saying actions are "subject to appropriation."
Representative (District 10) urged passage of House Bill 26, saying the measure lets Idaho join a national ABLE-account consortium so families caring for people with disabilities can save without losing means-tested benefits. He told colleagues the program "costs the state $0. 0" and described ABLE accounts as a long-term savings tool similar to college savings plans.
The bill’s sponsor said the program uses fees paid by account holders to cover administrative and outreach costs. "If they're in an out of state [program], it can be up to point 59% of the investment. And in state, it can be as low as point 19%. So that's a pretty big difference in savings," the sponsor said.
Supporters said the bill fills a gap for Idaho families who otherwise may be forced to stay near state assistance. Representative (District 15), who introduced the nursing leaders and students to the chamber earlier in the day, and other members of the Health and Welfare committee described internal treasurer's‑office arrangements for overseeing outreach and education and said no general‑fund appropriation is expected.
Opponents focused on language in the bill mentioning an advisory committee and a statutory reference to member compensation. Representative (District 13) said he was "really concerned about this advisory council" because the bill’s text includes the phrase "subject to appropriation" and the fiscal note shows no cost. He said the bill references Idaho Code section 59‑509A in connection with compensation and warned he would vote no if taxpayers could be obliged to pay advisory‑board members.
Representative (District 21) and others responded that Idaho Code §59‑509A already provides that certain advisory members "shall serve without honorarium or any pay of any kind," and that committee work would be handled within existing treasurer's‑office staff. Representative (District 21) said the code change in the bill reflects establishing an Idaho program rather than relying on out‑of‑state consortia.
After debate, the House voted to pass the bill. The clerk announced the result as recorded in the chamber: 56 ayes, 13 nays; the presiding officer declared House Bill 26 passed and ordered the title corrected and the bill transmitted to the Senate.
The measure as described in the chamber would allow Idaho residents to participate in ABLE accounts through a state program that is part of a multistate consortium, set up procedures for outreach and education administered through the treasurer's office, and reference existing code on advisory bodies. The bill text as read in the House included "subject to appropriation," though the sponsor and several supporters told members they do not expect a request to the general fund and said fees paid by account holders would cover program costs.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 26 passed the House (clerk announced 56 ayes, 13 nays).
