Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act

Bill: 119-hr-1151
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2025-02-07
Policy area: Taxation
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act</strong></p><p>This bill expands the expenses eligible for tax-free withdrawals from a qualified tuition program (known as a 529 plan) to include tuition, fees (including test fees), books, supplies, equipment, and other expenses related to the enrollment or attendance in a recognized&nbsp;postsecondary credentialing program.</p><p>Under the bill, a recognized&nbsp;postsecondary credentialing program includes certain programs identified by a state as providing training services, a program listed in the Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS) maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs, certain examinations required to obtain or maintain a credential, and other reputable credentialing programs.</p><p>Further, under the bill, such programs must be designed for an individual to obtain</p><ul><li>an industry-recognized postsecondary employment credential (e.g., project management professional certificate, advanced emergency medical technician certificate, and welding supervisor certificate),</li><li>a certificate of completion of a registered and certified apprenticeship,</li><li>an occupational or professional license issued or recognized by a state or the federal government (and any certification required for obtaining such license), or</li><li>an associate or baccalaureate degree.&nbsp;</li></ul>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1151 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 7, 2025 Mr. Wittman (for himself, Mr. Horsford , Mr. Hern of Oklahoma , Mr. Larson of Connecticut , Mr. Finstad , Ms. McClellan , Mr. Collins , Mr. Panetta , Mr. Carey , and Mr. Subramanyam ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain postsecondary credentialing expenses as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of 529 accounts.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act . 2. Certain postsecondary credentialing expenses treated as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of 529 accounts (a) In general Section 529(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Certain postsecondary credentialing expenses The term qualified higher education expenses includes qualified postsecondary credentialing expenses (as defined in subsection (f)). . (b) Qualified postsecondary credentialing expenses Section 529 is amended by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g) and by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection: (f) Qualified postsecondary credentialing expenses For purposes of this section— (1) In general The term qualified postsecondary credentialing expenses means— (A) tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the enrollment or attendance of a designated beneficiary in a recognized postsecondary credential program, or any other expense incurred in connection with enrollment in or attendance at a recognized postsecondary credential program if such expense would, if incurred in connection with enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution, be covered under subsection (e)(3)(A), (B) fees for testing if such testing is required to obtain or maintain a recognized postsecondary credential, and (C) fees for continuing education if such education is required to maintain a recognized postsecondary credential. (2) Recognized postsecondary credential program For purposes of this subparagraph, the term recognized postsecondary credential program means any program to obtain a recognized postsecondary credential if— (A) such program is included on a State list prepared under section 122(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3152(d) ), (B) such program is listed in the WEAMS Public directory (or successor directory) maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs, (C) an examination (developed or administered by an organization widely recognized as providing reputable credentials in the occupation) is required to obtain or maintain such credential and such organization recognizes such program as providing training or education which prepares individuals to take such examination, or (D) such program is identified by the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Labor, as being a reputable program for obtaining a recognized postsecondary credential for purposes of this subparagraph. (3) Recognized postsecondary credential The term recognized postsecondary credential means— (A) any postsecondary employment credential that is industry recognized, including— (i) any postsecondary employment credential issued by a program that is accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, the National Commission on Certifying Agencies, or the American National Standards Institute, (ii) any postsecondary employment credential that is included in the Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) directory of credentialing programs (or successor directory) maintained by the Department of Defense or by any branch of the Armed Services, and (iii) any postsecondary employment credential identified for purposes of this clause by the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Labor, as being industry recognized, (B) any certificate of completion of an apprenticeship that is registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act ( 29 U.S.C. 50 ), (C) any occupational or professional license issued or recognized by a State or the Federal Government (and any certification that satisfies a condition for obtaining such a license), and (D) any recognized postsecondary credential as defined in section 3(52) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 ). . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to distributions made after the date of the enactment of this Act.