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Bills from the 2019–20 session

Senate Bill 776

Requiring the Department of Financial Institutions to implement a section 529A ABLE savings account program and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

Stopped in committee

It never got a ⁠, so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 6, 2020

  2. Committee, stopped here

    Stopped here. No public hearing was held.

  3. Senate vote, not reached

  4. Assembly vote, not reached

  5. Governor, not reached

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 1, 2020: “Failed to pass pursuant to ⁠”

It never got a hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue and Financial Institutions. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.

Read the bill

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What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill requires the Department of Financial Institutions to implement a qualified ABLE program under section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code allowing tax-exempt accounts for qualified expenses incurred by individuals with disabilities.

Under current federal law, states may create a qualified Achieving a Better Life Experience program under which an individual may establish a tax-exempt savings account to pay for qualified expenses, such as education, housing, and transportation costs, for a beneficiary who is an individual with disabilities, as defined under federal law. Although these accounts, commonly referred to as “ABLE accounts” or “section 529A accounts,” cannot be established under this state's law, they can be established under another state's law, and if so established, withdrawals from these accounts for payment of qualified disability expenses for the account beneficiary are exempt from taxation in this state.

Read the full summary

This bill requires DFI to implement and administer a qualified ABLE program, either directly or by entering into an agreement with another state or alliance of states to establish an ABLE program or otherwise administer ABLE program services for the residents of this state. DFI must, within approximately six months, determine whether implementing the ABLE program directly or by entering into an agreement is the best option for this state's residents. If DFI enters into an agreement, the agreement may require the party contracting with DFI to do any of the following: 1) develop and implement an ABLE program in accordance with all requirements under federal law and modify the ABLE program as necessary for participants to qualify for federal income tax benefits; 2) contract for professional and technical assistance and advice in developing marketing plans and promotional materials to publicize the ABLE program; 3) work with organizations with expertise in supporting people with disabilities and their families in administering the agreement and ensuring accessibility of the ABLE program for people with disabilities; or 4) take any other action necessary to implement and administer the ABLE program. The bill also requires DFI to provide on its Internet site and in written materials certain information concerning ABLE accounts.

Who's behind it

10 senators are its ⁠. 9 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.

24 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 34 names

Authors (10)

Signed on in support (24)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

What happened

  1. Apr 1, 2020

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  2. Feb 24, 2020

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  3. Feb 18, 2020

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  4. Feb 17, 2020

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  5. Feb 6, 2020

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue and Financial Institutions.

  6. Feb 6, 2020

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 6, 2020 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Jacque, L. Taylor, Bewley, Larson, Ringhand, Schachtner, Shilling, Miller, Risser and Wirch; cosponsored by Representatives Subeck, Mursau, Anderson, Billings, Brostoff, Cabrera, Emerson, Fields, Gundrum, Hesselbein, Kolste, Pope, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spiros, Spreitzer, Tusler, Vining, Vruwink, Thiesfeldt, Brandtjen and Wichgers

  2. Feb 6, 2020 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture, Revenue and Financial Institutions

  3. Feb 17, 2020 · Senate

    Representative Loudenbeck added as a cosponsor

  4. Feb 18, 2020 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Feb 24, 2020 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Apr 1, 2020 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

Terms on this page

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

More in the glossary

Public hearing

A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.

More in the glossary

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

Public hearing

A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate