House Bill 496 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Sections 71-4-803 and 71-4-806, to clarify definitions and regulations related to the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. The bill replaces the existing definitions for "disability certification" and "eligible individual" in Section 71-4-803, ensuring that they align with the definitions provided in the code. Additionally, it modifies Section 71-4-806(d) to specify that contributions from a student's individualized education account to an ABLE account can only be used for the student's education expenses, in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations.

The bill's provisions take effect at different times: the changes to the definitions in Section 1 will become law immediately for rule promulgation purposes, while the full implementation of these changes will occur on January 1, 2026. The remaining sections of the act will take effect upon becoming law. This legislative update aims to enhance the clarity and functionality of the ABLE program in Tennessee, ensuring that funds are used appropriately for educational expenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-4-803, 71-4-806(d), 71-4-806