You Down With BBB? Yeah, You Know Me

Boring, not Beautiful, yet I approve with the Naughty by Nature Stamp.

Hope all had a happy Independence Day, I shole did. But rest assured, I was busy eating, dranking, and doing nothing else. However, there is an exception: I did read HR 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), not once but twice. Now, before I get started, like I said, it was a slow weekend and I had nothing on the plate, plus I never trust folks telling me about something I could read myself.

I considered writing about the 55 people shot, 8 fatally, in the 4th of July weekend gun violence, not including the 18 also shot, 4 fatally, in the River North mass shooting an hour before the official start of the holiday weekend. Still, I had done so a few months ago, plus it is a normal July 4th occurrence in the city annually. I also considered writing on Zohran Mamdani’s claiming black and Asian on his college application, or the video of his father asserting that Abraham Lincoln was Hitler's inspiration, and that white people are the oppressors, making America the root of all evil. I also considered an essay on why Grasshoppers (suborder Caelifera) have more kick power (the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit time) than Kangaroos.

The majority of the 940-page text is explanatory, focusing on striking, defining, changing, and inserting new language for each subsection. One example that stood out was the definition of farm-raised fish on page 75 (“means fish propagated and reared in a controlled fresh water environment.)” One would have reckoned this was unnecessary, but Thus Spoke Zarathustra, I mean, government. For some other reason, paper was wasted on what I gathered was the need to define terms such as payment, payment rate, and account beneficiary (page 304). But what do I know?

But for all of the fear-mongering, the bill was not that bad, except for its length. Not to go too much into detail, here are a few nuggets I ran across. This is not a deep dive, although I read each page, so do not condemn me. Boring is what boring is when reading most congressional text, except hearing testimonies, so have mercy on me. Shall we be again?

I will begin with page 17, Sec. 10102. Modifications to SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults. Under the amended Food and Nutrition Act, the bill adjusts who is exempt from SNAP’s time-limited work requirements (20 hours/week or equivalent). Exempt individuals now include those who are:

• Under 18 or over 65

• Medically unfit for employment

• Parents or caregivers of a child under 14 (changed from under 6 previously)

• Pregnant

• Members of federally recognized Indian tribes, including Urban and California Indians

The work requirement now applies to adults ages 18–64, raising the upper limit from 54 to 64. Additionally, it includes parents of children aged 14 and older in the ABAWD category, whereas previously only those with children over 18 or without children were affected. Groups that were previously exempt, such as veterans, homeless individuals, and youth aging out of foster care (under 25), now lose their exemption and must comply immediately. For non-contiguous states (Alaska, Hawaii), a waiver is granted if unemployment is at least 1.5 times the national average, but broad waivers for low-employment areas are removed. This means states now have to meet stricter unemployment thresholds (e.g., over 10%) to qualify for exemptions. These changes take effect upon enactment. Low-employment states lose broad exemptions; only high-unemployment and non-contiguous states qualify. This adds an administrative burden, requiring states to track more recipients and enforce stricter rules for time and reporting. The goal is to encourage work and reduce SNAP dependency, aligning with the bill’s broader push for “work-first” social safety net policies. This follows the bill’s broader push for “work-first” social safety net policies.

Section 10102 significantly expands SNAP work requirements by broadening the age range (up to 64), including more parents in the ABAWD rules, removing certain humanitarian exemptions, and tightening waiver options. Effective immediately upon enactment, it aims to shift more recipients toward employment or training, but adds notable administrative complexity for states.

Page 27 details Sec. 10102. Modifications to SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults. It limits SNAP eligibility to specific immigration statuses. Individuals can only receive SNAP benefits if they are:

• U.S. citizens or nationals,

• Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders),

• Cuban/Haitian entrants, or

• Those living under the Compacts of Free Association (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau).

All other non-citizens, such as refugees, asylees, parolees, conditional entrants, TPS holders, or undocumented immigrants, are now ineligible. Household income still counts reckoned with a non-eligible member’s resources if they were previously in the household, and it is effective immediately upon enactment; there is no phase-in period specified.

SNAP access will be drastically reduced. Now, hundreds of thousands (or more) non-citizen long-resident individuals, even those with legal humanitarian statuses, will lose benefits. Even households including just one now-ineligible member may lose overall benefits or face reduced allotments.

Section 10108 removes SNAP eligibility for nearly all immigrants who aren’t U.S. citizens or green card holders, with narrow exceptions, immediately reducing participation among refugees, humanitarian arrivals, and other non-citizen low-income households.

On Page 152, there is Sec. 40003, Air traffic control improvements. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a substantial investment specifically for the Federal Aviation Administration.

( $12.5 billion allocated to begin modernizing the FAA’s air traffic control infrastructure. The funding covers:

• Telecommunications upgrades and system modernization (~$4.75 billion)

• Radar system replacements (~$3 billion)

• New Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) (~$1.9 billion)

• TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) recapitalization (~$1 billion)

• Additional sums for runway safety tech, remote tower deployment, controller training, and digital systems

This $12.5 billion is a “down payment” on upgrading aging FAA systems, from radars and communications to potentially new control centers and better digital tools, and to bring the U.S. ATC infrastructure into the 21st century.

Sec. 70102 details the extension and enhancement of the increased standard deduction. This section extends and possibly increases the temporary higher standard deduction that was originally enacted under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which is currently set to expire after 2025.

It keeps the higher standard deduction amounts in place beyond 2025, rather than letting them revert to pre-2017 levels, and may increase the deduction further or adjust it more favorably for inflation, making it even larger than under current law. It will reduce taxable income for more households by:

• Making the tax filing process simpler (fewer people need to itemize deductions).

• Providing greater tax relief, especially for middle-income earners.

Sec. 70104 addresses extension and enhancement of the increased child tax credit. This section extends and likely expands the more generous Child Tax Credit (CTC) provisions originally introduced in recent pandemic relief laws or the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which were set to expire.

It keeps the increased credit amount (e.g., up to $2,000 or more per child) beyond its scheduled expiration, rather than letting it drop back to pre-2017 levels ($1,000). Enhancement may include:

• Higher per-child credit (possibly up to $3,000–$3,600 for younger children, as seen in past expansions).

• Allows low-income families with little or no tax liability to receive the full credit as a refund.

• Optional advance distribution, rather than a lump sum at tax filing.

• Increasing income phase-outs or including 17-year-olds.

To boost support for families with children, especially low and middle-income households, aimed to reduce child poverty, and stimulate the economy by increasing household spending power. Several sections reduce the amount of income subject to federal taxes by keeping or raising the higher standard deduction (e.g., $27,700 for married couples, $13,850 for individuals). It also increases the value of the credit and possibly makes more of it refundable, directly reducing tax liability, and modifies how income from sole proprietorships, LLCs, etc., qualifies for the 20% QBI deduction, reducing taxable business income.

Sec. 70201, “No tax on tips” is presented on page 274. It introduces an above-the-line deduction for “qualified tips (up to $25,000/year),” exempting them from federal income tax for tax years 2025–2028. The deduction phases out starting at $150,000 MAGI for individuals ($300,000 for couples), reducing by $100 per $1,000 over that threshold. Qualified tips must:

• Be voluntary, non-negotiated, and determined by the payer, so no mandatory service charges

• Be received in an occupation that customarily tips (as of Dec 31, 2024); Treasury/IRS to publish a qualifying list within 90 days

• Require the taxpayer (and spouse, if filing jointly) to include a Social Security Number on the return

• Only federal income is still subject to payroll taxes and state/local taxes.

• Applies only to cash or equivalent tips; excludes non-cash gratuities

• Valid for taxable years starting Jan 1, 2025, and expires after Dec 31, 2028

• Workers in tipped occupations, like servers, bartenders, and hair stylists, with reported tip income via W‑2 or Form 4137

• Undocumented workers are ineligible due to the SSN requirement.

I really liked Sec. 71104, “Ensuring deceased individuals do not remain enrolled,” on page 365. It mandates quarterly eligibility reviews for states participating in Medicaid (including CHIP) by January 1, 2027, and requires reviewing the Social Security Death Master File every quarter. This means that if a deceased individual is found still enrolled, the state must disenroll them and stop further payments on their behalf. Also, if someone was mistakenly removed (e.g., due to an error in matching death records), they must be immediately re-enrolled, with benefits restored retroactively to the date they were wrongly disenrolled.

While the Death Master File is required, states may also use other electronic data sources to identify deceased enrollees, as long as they continue meeting the statutory requirements. Starting January 1, 2027, all state Medicaid and CHIP plans must begin these quarterly reviews. The goal is to prevent improper payments to deceased individuals, reduce taxpayer waste, and ensure program integrity, while also including safeguards to prevent the disenrollment of living individuals by mistake and to protect against errors.

Page 491 is where Sec. 70436, on the reduction of transfer and manufacturing taxes for certain devices, mainly firearms. This basically ends the National Firearms Act, a 1934 US law regulating firearms, including machine guns. Short-barreled rifles (barrels under 16 inches) would no longer be regulated under the NFA. These firearms would be treated like standard rifles under federal law. It also removes the $200 tax stamp and federal registration currently required to legally possess:

• Short-barreled rifles (SBRs)

• Short-barreled shotguns (SBS)

• Possibly certain other regulated items

This section voids the Biden-era ATF rule that classified many AR-style pistols with braces as NFA items, and allows owners to possess or manufacture such weapons without NFA oversight. Silencers, SBRs, SBSs, and similar NFA items will no longer require the $200 transfer or making tax currently paid to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

There are a few things that caught my eye on Pages 500 to 580. Sec. 70503. Termination of the qualified commercial clean vehicles credit ends the Section 45W tax credit, which currently allows businesses to claim up to $40,000 per clean commercial vehicle (or $7,500 for lighter vehicles). The termination would apply starting in a future tax year (likely 2025 or later, depending on the bill’s enactment date). Businesses will no longer receive federal incentives for electrifying their commercial fleets.

Sec. 70504. Termination of the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit ends the federal tax credit for installing alternative fuel refueling property, such as:

• Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations

• Hydrogen fuel pumps

• Natural gas, propane, or biodiesel refueling systems

All said, it terminates the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (IRC Section 30C). Currently, this credit covers up to 30% of the cost (up to $100,000 for businesses, $1,000 for individuals) for eligible refueling equipment, and would apply to both residential and commercial installations, unless otherwise specified.

This terminates any existing tax credits specifically tied to buying vehicles that run on non-gasoline/diesel fuels, unless they fall under other provisions (like the clean vehicle credit), and applies to both individuals and businesses, depending on how the original credit was structured.

Sec. 70607 starts on page 622, the Social Security number requirement for American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning credits. This impacts taxpayers claiming either the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) or the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC), and their spouses or dependents, if applicable, and requires a valid Social Security Number (SSN) (or other acceptable taxpayer ID, such as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, ITIN) for:

The credit recipient

• Their spouse (if filing jointly)

• Any child or dependent qualifying for the credit

It ensures that only individuals with valid SSNs or other taxpayer IDs can claim these education credits, tightening eligibility and reducing fraud or misuse. Taxpayers will need to confirm SSNs (or ITINs) for all relevant individuals before they file, or else risk losing the credit.

On page 654, we find Sec. 71114, Prohibiting Federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for certain items and services. It states that federal Medicaid and CHIP funds may not be used to pay for gender transition procedures, including surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone replacement therapy, for both adults and minors. Exceptions are limited; for example, there’s a carve-out for procedures to “rectify chromosomal abnormalities.”

Under related Section 71113, but relevant to the theme of this subchapter, federal payments are barred for one year to any “prohibited entity” (e.g., nonprofit community health centers) that:

• Provides elective abortions beyond narrow exceptions.

• Received over $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in 2023.

The gender-affirming care funding ban is effective immediately upon enactment. Individuals who depend on Medicaid or CHIP for gender-affirming services may lose coverage for essential treatments. This represents a major federal-level rollback of coverage that many states and healthcare providers currently offer.

Ban on gender transition services. Upon enactment, Medicaid/CHIP cannot cover sex-change surgeries, puberty blockers, or hormones. Defunding “prohibited entities.”The first year after enactment, federal funds to providers exceeded abortion-related criteria. In essence, Section 71114 eliminates federal funding for gender transition treatments under Medicaid and CHIP, aligning with broader budget-cutting and coverage-restriction goals in the broader legislation.

Section 71124 adjusts the regular Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which I read on page 713, the basic share of Medicaid costs paid by the federal government for states with unusually high poverty levels.

If the HHS Secretary issues a separate poverty guideline for a state that’s higher than the national or majority guideline, that state is deemed “high-poverty.” The state with the highest such guideline receives an FMAP increase equal to 25% of the average FMAP for states without a separate guideline. The state with the second-highest guideline gets a 15% boost in the same way. The increased FMAP applies to medical assistance payments (excluding other enhanced FMAP categories like CHIP or expansion FMAP). The adjustments take effect starting from the first fiscal quarter after enactment and continue each quarter thereafter.

This incentive directs more federal funding toward states with the greatest poverty challenges, and it applies only to the base FMAP, not to additional federal share for Medicaid expansion or CHIP. It also helps less advantaged states boost Medicaid resources without impacting other high-income states.

Section 71124 offers a modest, data-driven mechanism to channel more Medicaid funding to the two U.S. states with the highest poverty rates, reinforcing support where it’s most needed.

On page 715, we find Section 71201, which amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to restrict Medicare eligibility based on immigration status. Only the following non-citizens remain eligible:

• U.S. citizens and nationals

• Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders)

• Cuban and Haitian entrants (as defined by the Refugee Education Assistance Act)

• Individuals residing under the Compacts of Free Association (from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau)

All other non-citizens, including refugees, asylees, temporary protected status holders, trafficking survivors, abused spouses, and many others currently eligible, will lose access to Medicare, even if they meet the usual age or disability requirements.

• Coverage ends 18 months after the Act is enacted.

• The Social Security Commissioner is required to identify non-citizen Medicare beneficiaries who no longer qualify within six months post-enactment

• This policy change is projected to reduce federal spending by approximately $5–5.5 billion over 10 years (2025–2034).

• Stricter eligibility: Immigrants currently receiving Medicare under lawful presence are now largely excluded.

• Implementation required: Federal agencies must actively remove individuals who no longer qualify.

• Cost savings: It's a strategic budget-cutting measure targeting federal expenditures on healthcare.

Section 71201 sharply narrows Medicare eligibility for non-citizens, phasing out coverage for refugees, asylees, and other groups, with implementation beginning 18 months after enactment and resulting in notable federal savings.

On page 718 we find Sec. 71203, Expanding and clarifying the exclusion for orphan drugs under the Drug Price Negotiation Program. Orphan drug exclusion expanded now includes any drug approved for one or more rare diseases or conditions, not just those with a single designation. The concern for me is that this will increase federal drug spending by an estimated $4.9 billion over 2025–2034, as more orphan drugs will now be exempt from price negotiation.

However, orphan drugs targeting multiple rare conditions gain exemption from Medicare's negotiation program. In addition, it strengthens pharmaceutical incentives to develop and secure multiple orphan designations without losing exemption benefits.

A broader class of orphan drugs will not be subject to price controls under the Inflation Reduction Act, affecting overall drug pricing.

One Big Beautiful Bill, including a temporary $6,000 deduction for seniors who earn as much $75,000 a year, or $12,000 for joint filers earning as much as $150,000.

I will not bore you any further. I do not consider this bill beautiful. Boring, yes, beautiful no. The only bill I would ever consider to be beautiful would eliminate the IRS and tax on all income forever. I hope you will forgive me because there are some other shiny things I like in the bill, but I just wanted to share a few. True, I read bills often, but they bore me so rarely do I write about them, so hate if you must.

I must mention that I stayed away from the AI sections on purpose. My bias is trial and error, let the states do their thang and see what works and doesn’t work, and move from there.

Overall, it costs and spends a lot, and I hate that, but on the other hand, it codifies a lot of good stuff. You make the call. I wrote about this out of the nerd and scientist in me. It won over an essay on why grasshopper hind legs demonstrate more power than kangaroo hind legs, so ask, which would be more beneficial?

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