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Senate committee advances bill to let Idaho join multistate ABLE account consortium

2532049 · February 19, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 26 to the floor with a "do pass" recommendation after hearing testimony that joining a multistate ABLE consortium would reduce account fees for Idahoans with disabilities and allow in‑state outreach and oversight.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday advanced House Bill 26, which would authorize the state treasurer to join a multistate consortium that operates ABLE accounts for people with disabilities. Treasurer Julie Ellsworth asked the committee for a "do pass" recommendation, saying the change would let Idaho offer an in‑state ABLE option while lowering fees for account holders.

ABLE accounts allow people with disabilities to save for disability‑related expenses without jeopardizing eligibility for benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. "By joining a consortium ... it will take it down to 19 to 33% basis points," Treasurer Julie Ellsworth told the committee, contrasting that range with the higher fees Idahoans currently pay through out‑of‑state programs.

The bill would let the State Treasurer select and join an existing multistate program after required legal review. Ellsworth said the state already…

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