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Committee advances bill allowing Idaho to join multistate ABLE-account consortium to lower fees, expand outreach
Summary
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee sent House Bill 26 to the floor after testimony that joining a multistate ABLE consortium would reduce fees for account holders, provide state-level outreach and oversight, and let Idahoans save for disability-related expenses without risking public benefits.
State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth asked the Senate Health and Welfare Committee to give House Bill 26 a “due pass” recommendation, saying the bill would allow Idaho to join a multistate ABLE-account consortium to reduce fees, provide outreach in Idaho and preserve account protections for people with disabilities.
The legislation would authorize the treasurer’s office to contract with a multi‑state program so Idahoans who open ABLE accounts through the state would pay lower account-management fees and the program could fund Idaho-based outreach. “By joining a consortium… it will take it down to 19 to 33% basis points, a huge savings to them,” Ellsworth told the committee, asking members to support the bill.
ABLE accounts let people with disabilities save for qualified disability-related expenses while protecting eligibility for means-tested benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Ellsworth said Idaho recognized ABLE accounts in law in 2017 but did not launch a state-run program because the overhead was prohibitive for a single state; joining an existing consortium spreads administration costs across participating states. She also said the bill carries no fiscal impact to the state general fund.
AARP Idaho, the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities and multiple account holders and family members testified in support. Lisa Anderson, advocacy director for AARP Idaho, said ABLE accounts “permit Idahoans with disabilities to save and manage their money without worrying about losing the critical benefits they need.” Rochelle Tierney of the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities said a state program “will provide greater oversight and protection for Idaho account holders.”
Account holders described practical hurdles of using out‑of‑state programs. Tara Rowe, who said she holds an ABLE account administered by the Tennessee State Treasurer’s Office, said cross‑state management can be difficult: she described receiving checks from an out‑of‑state bank when she needs funds and explained the practical risk of triggering Medicaid asset limits. “If Medicaid wanted to look at my bank account and see that I was over that asset cap, then I would automatically lose benefits,” Rowe said. Britney Shipley described how ABLE accounts help her son “save money to buy things I need or want without having to ask my mom.”
Ellsworth also addressed a governance question about an advisory council, noting the relevant code language that advisory members “shall serve without honorarium compensation or expense reimbursement of any kind,” and describing the council as voluntary oversight.
Committee members moved and seconded a motion to send the bill to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The motion carried by voice vote.
The bill will next be scheduled for floor consideration.
