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HB 1063

TO AMEND THE ACHIEVING A BETTER LIFE EXPERIENCE PROGRAM ACT; AND TO AMEND THE DEFINITIONS OF "DISABILITY CERTIFICATION" AND "ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL" TO CHANGE DISABILITY ONSET AGE FROM TWENTY-SIX TO FORTY-SIX.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Crowell and 2 co-sponsors

Arkansas expands ABLE program eligibility from age 26 to 46 for disability onset, allowing more mid-career and older adults to access tax-advantaged savings for disability-related expenses.

Notification that HB1063 is now Act 875
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1063

Legislative bill overview

HB 1063 amends Arkansas's ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) program to expand eligibility by raising the maximum age at which a disability must have onset from 26 to 46 years old. This allows individuals who develop disabilities later in life to benefit from tax-advantaged savings accounts designed to help people with disabilities maintain financial independence.

Why is this important

The ABLE program provides significant tax benefits for disability-related savings, but the original federal age limit of 26 excluded many people who become disabled through injury, illness, or age-related conditions after that threshold. Expanding eligibility to age 46 captures a substantial population—including workers who become disabled mid-career—and increases access to these financial planning tools for a broader demographic.

Potential points of contention

  • Program cost and funding: Expanding eligibility may increase demand for related services and administration, though ABLE accounts are primarily self-funded through participant contributions
  • Definition of disability scope: Raising the age threshold significantly changes who qualifies, which could prompt debates about appropriate program boundaries and whether further expansions are justified
  • Federal-state alignment: Arkansas is modifying a federally-created program; clarity on whether this creates conflicts with federal ABLE program rules or requires federal approval is essential

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

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