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HB 3500

Creating the Governor’s Cup competition

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sean Hornbuckle

Illinois ABLE program info must be shared with families of students with 504 plans and early intervention participants, standardizing references and posting materials.

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Bill Summary · HB 3500

Summary — HB 3500 (Public Act 104-0314): “ABLE Account Program Info”

Status: Enacted (Public Act 104‑0314) — Governor approved August 15, 2025. Effective date: January 1, 2026.
Introduced: February 27, 2025. Primary sponsor: Rep. Suzanne M. Ness. Companion: SB 2486.

Purpose

To require routine dissemination of informational materials about the Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program to certain families of children with disabilities and to standardize statutory references to the program as the “Illinois ABLE account program.” The goal is to increase family awareness of ABLE accounts (tax‑advantaged accounts for individuals with disabilities) and make enrollment information readily available at points of school and early‑intervention contact.

Key provisions

  • Adds 5 ILCS 70/1.46: establishes that references in Illinois law to the “ABLE account program” will be construed as references to the “Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program.”
  • Amends the State Treasurer Act (15 ILCS 505/16.5 and 16.6): makes technical changes to references to the Illinois ABLE account in provisions related to the College Savings Pool (including rollovers and account definitions/accounting).
  • School Code change (105 ILCS 5/14‑8.02i):
    • Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, school districts must provide informational materials about the Illinois ABLE account program to the parent/guardian of any student who has a Section 504 plan.
    • Distribution must use the same methods used for other communications about the student’s Section 504 plan and, per amendment, must also be posted on the district’s website.
  • Early intervention / Department of Early Childhood changes (325 ILCS 3/10‑65 and 325 ILCS 20/11):
    • Regional intake offices must provide ABLE informational materials to parents/guardians during the initial Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) development and at each IFSP review.
    • Materials must include an overview of the Illinois ABLE program, eligibility criteria, and necessary enrollment information.
    • Regional intake offices must document transmission of the materials.
  • The Office of the State Treasurer is required to prepare and deliver the informational materials for distribution.

Who is affected

  • Families/guardians of:
    • Students with Section 504 plans (K–12).
    • Children receiving early intervention services (IFSP participants).
  • School districts and district staff responsible for Section 504 communications.
  • Regional intake offices and early intervention providers.
  • Office of the State Treasurer (responsible for producing materials).
  • No direct changes to ABLE account rules beyond name-standardization and technical statutory references.

Implementation timeline & procedural notes

  • Effective date: January 1, 2026.
  • School distribution requirement begins with the 2026–2027 school year.
  • Legislative process: Passed both houses (House concurrence with Senate Committee Amendment No. 1), sent to Governor June 24, 2025; approved August 15, 2025.

Fiscal/administrative impact

  • The bill primarily imposes administrative duties: producing, distributing, posting, and documenting informational materials. No separate appropriation is specified; costs are likely limited to printing/distribution, website posting, and staff time.

Statutory citations amended/added (selected)

  • 5 ILCS 70/1.46 (new)
  • 15 ILCS 505/16.5 and 16.6 (State Treasurer Act)
  • 105 ILCS 5/14‑8.02i (School Code)
  • 325 ILCS 3/10‑65 and 325 ILCS 20/11 (Early childhood / early intervention laws)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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