SB 252 — Relating to: independence accounts. (FE)

- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBa0356/1LRB-0174/1 JPC:ajk&skwJPC:emw SENATE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 252 AugustMay 27,9, 2025 - OfferedIntroduced by SenaACQUESenators .J ACQUE and F EYEN , cosponsored by Representatives BROOKS , KAUFERT , ALLEN , KNODL , M URPHY, M URSAU , SUBECK , W ICHGERS and B EHNKE.

AtReferred theto locationsCommittee indicated,on amendGovernment theOperations, billLabor asand follows:Economic Development.

1.A N A CT to create 49.472 (3m) of the statutes;

Pagerelating 2,to: line 2:

delNDEPENDENCEindependence ACCOUNTSaccounts. .Y and substitutNCOME AND INHERITANCE.Y.

2.Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill requires the Department of Health Services to allow an individual to deposit up to $15,000 of the individual’s gross earnings in an independence account over a 12-month period.

PageFurther, 2,the linebill 3:prohibits DHS from including assets acquired by an individual by inheritance when determining the individual’s financial eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan.

deleteUnder linescurrent 3law, andan 4independence andaccount substituteis Xindividualan toaccount depositapproved allby DHS that consists solely of thesavings, individual[sdividends, earnedother gains derived from those savings, and income inearned anfrom independencepaid account.Y.employment after the date on which the individual began receiving Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan.

3.The Medical Assistance purchase plan is a subprogram of the Medical Assistance program that allows individuals who have a qualifying disability and who are working or who want to work to remain eligible for Medical Assistance benefits.To be eligible for benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan, among other things, an individual’s assets must not exceed $15,000, but assets accumulated in an independence account are excluded from the calculation.

PageThe 2,Medical lineAssistance 5:program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources.

delete- lines2026 5Legislature and- 62 and- substitute:LRB-0174/1 JPC:emw SENATE BILL 252 SECTION 1 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

X(bm)The Inpeople determiningof assetsthe understate sub.of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

(3)SECTION (b),1. the department shall exclude up to $40,000 from the value of assets that are acquired by inheritance.Y.

END49.472 )(3m) of the statutes is created to read:

49.472 (3m) I NDEPENDENCE ACCOUNTS .

(a) The department shall allow an individual to deposit up to $15,000 of the individual’s gross earnings in an independence account over a 12-month period.

(b) In determining assets under sub.

(3) (b), the department may not include assets that are acquired by inheritance.

(c) If the department determines that federal approval is required to implement any part of this subsection, the department shall submit any state plan amendment, waiver of federal Medicaid law, or other request for federal approval necessary to implement this subsection.

The department shall implement this subsection to the extent that the federal department of health and human services does not disapprove of the plan amendment, waiver request, or other request for federal approval.

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