Knowledge is power—especially when it comes to landmark legislation like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025. With 870 pages of new regulations, amendments, and reforms, this bill touches nearly every major area of public policy—from taxes and healthcare to military spending and energy infrastructure. If you’ve only heard the headlines or political soundbites, you’re missing the full story.
What Is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a comprehensive federal law intended to address a wide range of national priorities. Its scope includes:
- Estate and gift tax law changes
- Expansion and funding of Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Texas programs
- Aviation safety and infrastructure modernization
- Military spending and defense allocations
- Energy policy updates, including strategic reserves
- Tax code updates on wages, tips, and interest
At 870 pages, the bill cannot be summarized accurately in a few sentences—and shouldn’t be.
Why It’s Important to Read the Full Text of the OBBBA
While political leaders and news outlets have offered their interpretations of the bill, many of these summaries are:
- Oversimplified: Key language and legislative implications are often left out
- Partisan: Selective emphasis to support political narratives
- Incomplete: Amendments are shared without showing what the original law says
To truly understand what’s changing, you need to go straight to the source.
How to Find and Navigate the Bill
You can read the full enrolled version (the final, official version of the bill) on Congress.gov.
Navigation tips:
- Use the Table of Contents to jump directly to areas of interest
- Search for keywords (e.g., “estate tax,” “Medicare,” “military”)
- Cross-reference amendments with existing laws via the IRS or legal code sites
Major Change: Estate Tax Exemption Increased
Section 70106 – What Changed
One of the most impactful financial provisions is found in Title VII – Finance, Section 70106. This section increases the basic estate tax exemption.
What’s new:
- Increases estate and gift tax exemption from $5 million to $15 million per person
- For married couples, the combined exemption is now $30 million
- The exemption is indexed for inflation and made permanent
How to Read the Legal Language
The bill doesn’t always quote the new law in full. Instead, it shows changes to previous statutes.
For example, Section 70106 reads:
“In subparagraph (A), by striking ‘$5,000,000’ and inserting ‘$15,000,000’.”
To understand the full impact, you must refer to IRC Section 2010(c)(3) to compare the before and after.
Other Key Sections Worth Exploring
The OBBBA covers far more than estate taxes. Here are additional sections with significant impact:
Title IV, Section 40003 – Aviation Safety and Modernization
- $4.75 billion allocated to telecommunications infrastructure improvements
- Funds earmarked for air traffic control upgrades and aviation safety programs
Title VII, Subtitle B – Health Care Changes
Covers reforms to:
- Medicaid (Chapter 1)
- Medicare (Chapter 2)
- Health Texas programs (Chapter 3)
Title VII, Subtitle A, Chapter 2 – Taxation Updates
New rules around:
- Taxing tips and service wages
- Overtime pay inclusion in tax brackets
- Interest deductions on car loans
Title II – Military Spending
- Details on updated defense budgets and allocations for military operations
Title V, Subtitle D, Section 50401 – Energy and Oil Reserves
- Provisions related to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
- Funding for energy security and oil storage capacity
Why You Should Read Beyond the Headlines
Every interest group, political figure, and media outlet has an angle. They’ll highlight only what supports their position. That’s why it’s vital to:
- Check the actual legal language
- Evaluate what’s changing vs. what’s being predicted
- Use critical thinking to form your own opinions
Final Thoughts: Empower Yourself with the Facts
Sound bites are no substitute for substance. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is full of important changes that affect everything from your taxes to your healthcare options. Don’t let others interpret it for you—read it, research it, and understand it yourself.
Knowledge is power. And when it comes to a law of this scale, that power starts with turning the page.
How These Changes Could Affect You and How Hammerle Morris Can Help
The team at Hammerle Morris Law Firm is here to help you make sense of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and how it could impact you. Whether you have questions about the new estate tax exemptions, healthcare provisions, or other sections of this sweeping legislation, we’re ready to guide you every step of the way.
Don’t wait to get clarity and protect your future—schedule a consultation with us today.
Virginia Hammerle is an accredited estate planner and represents clients in estate planning, probate, guardianship, and contested litigation. She may be reached at legaltalktexas@hammerle.com. This blog contains general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
