Kitchen Table Edition, Part 2
Back in July, we unpacked the first round of no-nonsense notes on the Big Beautiful Law. But that was just the tip of the haystack. The bill is hundreds of pages long, and buried inside are more changes that could shake up life in Oklahoma — from the way family farms get passed down to who decides the rules for artificial intelligence. Here’s what else you need to know.
1. Passing the Family Farm Just Got Easier (Estate & Gift Taxes)
If you own land or a business worth a good chunk of change, the Big Beautiful Law might save your kids or grandkids from a giant tax bill when you’re gone. Starting in 2026, the amount you can pass on without paying federal estate or gift taxes jumps to $15 million for individuals, $30 million for married couples — and it stays that way for good. That’s a big deal in Oklahoma farm country, where land values can push family operations over the old limit. Now they will have more options than just selling off acreage to pay taxes.
2. A Tax Break Just for Seniors (Senior Bonus Deduction)
If you’re 65 or older, there’s a new “senior bonus” deduction worth $6,000 for singles or $12,000 for couples between 2025 and 2028. It phases out if your income’s over $75K (single) or $150K (married), but for folks on fixed incomes, it means more breathing room. That might cover the propane bill or finally replace the recliner your spouse has been threatening to throw out for years.
3. New Education Vouchers — Choices or Challenges?
The law sets aside $5 billion for a national voucher program. Families earning up to 300% of the area’s median income can use the money for private school tuition, homeschooling, or tutoring. In rural Oklahoma, that could mean new options for parents who’ve been driving 40 miles to get their kids to a different school. But critics say pulling money toward vouchers could leave small-town public schools with fewer resources — and they’re already stretched thin.
For Oklahoma families, the changes could open doors for some, but leave others feeling left behind.
4. The Tobacco Loophole That Stuck Around
Ever heard of the “double drawback” loophole? Most people haven’t — but Oklahoma’s Xcaliber International in Pryor sure has. It’s a trade rule that lets foreign tobacco companies get refunds on customs duties twice, making it easier for them to undercut U.S. producers. Lawmakers had a chance to close the loophole in the Big Beautiful Law, but they didn’t. For local jobs, that could mean another uphill fight.
What does this mean at home? Local jobs and producers face another year on the defensive.
5. Rolling Back More Than Just Wind and Solar
Part 1 talked about trimmed wind and solar credits. But the cuts go deeper — electric vehicle tax credits and federal support for large-scale battery storage are also on the chopping block. That means slower growth for renewable energy projects in Oklahoma and fewer opportunities for suppliers, especially in western counties where wind farms and solar projects were starting to attract new jobs.
If you’re in the business of building the future, it’s another hurdle on the track.
6. Washington Still Wants a Say in AI Rules
The House wanted to ban states from making their own AI laws for 10 years. The Senate watered that down, but the Big Beautiful Law still limits what Oklahoma can do in certain areas — like AI in healthcare, hiring, and law enforcement. So if a town here wants to pass strict rules on how police use facial recognition, they may have to get in line with what D.C. decides.
Oklahoma’s tech future will have to play by federal rules, at least for now.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Big Beautiful Law is like a casserole at a church potluck — a little of everything, and not all of it to everyone’s taste. Part 1 was about the obvious changes. Part 2 is the rest of the recipe: the parts you might not see until you’re halfway through your plate. Whether it’s passing down the farm, picking a school, or keeping an eye on new tech, these rules will ripple through Oklahoma for years to come. We’ll keep following the story as these changes start to hit home.
• QUICK RECAP BOX — BIG BEAUTIFUL LAW IN A NUTSHELL Part 1
Highlights: - Keep more of your overtime pay (SALT deduction bump for some) - New hoops for SNAP & Medicaid (80-hour work rules) - Education funding cuts; no new student loan relief - Child tax credit shrinks back; less childcare help - Renewable energy credits trimmed; rural broadband stuck in neutral - VA benefits steady; police budgets tighter; FEMA could run thin Part 2 Highlights: - Higher estate & gift tax limits protect family farms & businesses - “Senior bonus” tax deduction through 2028 - $5B national voucher program changes school choices - Tobacco trade loophole stays open — hurting Oklahoma producers - EV and battery storage credits cut - New federal limits on some state AI regulations
