Senate committee advances bill to let Idaho join multistate ABLE consortium

State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth asked the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on to send House Bill 26 to the Senate floor, saying the bill would allow Idaho to offer ABLE accounts by joining a multistate consortium rather than building a standalone program.

ABLE accounts let people with disabilities save for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing eligibility for means-tested benefits. "By joining a consortium," Ellsworth said, the state can spread administrative costs and lower fees for account holders; the treasurer said, "it will take it down to 19 to 33% basis points, a huge savings to them." The committee voted to give the bill a due-pass recommendation and advance it to the full Senate.

Why it matters: ABLE accounts are intended to help people with disabilities build savings for equipment, housing, education and other expenses while preserving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility. Testimony from account holders and disability advocates described practical obstacles Idahoans face when their accounts are hosted out of state.

What the bill would do: Ellsworth said the bill authorizes the state treasurer to join an existing multistate ABLE consortium after completing legal and procurement reviews. She told the committee there would be no fiscal impact to the general fund from joining a consortium and that Idaho would retain some fee revenue to fund in-state outreach. The treasurer also noted the bill includes an advisory council provision; the transcript quotes the relevant statutory language: "Member shall serve without honorarium compensation or expense reimbursement of any kind."

Testimony and examples: AARP Idaho's advocacy director Lisa Anderson told the committee AARP supports the bill as a way to let Idahoans save for disability-related expenses. Rochelle Tierney of the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities said an Idaho program would "help keep fees down for account holders" and provide "greater oversight and protection for Idaho account holders." Tara Rowe, an ABLE account holder from Twin Falls, described practical difficulties of managing an out-of-state account: "If Medicaid wanted to look at my bank account and see that I was over that asset cap, then I would automatically lose benefits from Medicaid ... there's a $2,000 cap." Other witnesses, including self-advocate Ian Bott and parents and advocates, spoke in support and urged the committee to advance the bill.

Committee action: Senator Shippey moved to send House Bill 26 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and the committee approved the motion.

Next steps: The bill was reported out of committee to the Senate floor; further consideration, amendments or voting by the full Senate will determine final enactment. Supporters asked the committee for a due-pass recommendation to allow the State Treasurer to complete consortium vetting and contracting.