President Donald Trump's sweeping legislative effort, which he has dubbed the "big beautiful bill," took a significant step forward on Tuesday, clearing the Senate with potential implications for American families. But its future in the House of Representatives remains uncertain, where as of Wednesday evening progress was slowly resuming after hours of stalled votes while lawmakers try to build support for the legislation.
House lawmakers on Wednesday evening finalized an amendment vote that had stalled for some six hours and began a procedural vote that would open the bill to an hour of scheduled debate on the House floor.
That five-minute vote, too, stretched for more than an hour. Democrats in the chamber have raised objections to the duration of this and earlier votes on Wednesday.
Chants of "regular order" could be briefly heard in the House chamber.
The House could take a final vote on the bill as early as Wednesday night. Given a narrow GOP majority in the House, its passage is far from certain. President Trump has said he wants a final bill on his desk by July 4.
According to a source, the House Freedom Caucus published a three-page document outlining objections to the Senate's version of the bill, which includes an increase to the federal deficit.
Among the notable proposed adjustments are tax revisions affecting tips, overtime pay, and car loans, set to be implemented during the 2025-2028 tax years. Specifically, the bill allows deductions of up to $10,000 for auto loan interest on certain U.S.-assembled vehicles if annual earnings fall below $100,000. Tip earnings deductions could reach $25,000 for individuals making less than $150,000, and overtime pay deductions max out at $12,500 for those earning under $150,000. These provisions are temporary and set to expire at the end of the decade.
Additionally, the legislation introduces new Medicaid work requirements, slated for December 31, 2026. States will need to establish procedures to verify employment for able-bodied adults working at least 80 hours monthly. This aspect is anticipated to factor prominently in the upcoming midterm elections.
Further, the bill proposes reallocating costs for food assistance programs like SNAP to state governments beginning in fiscal year 2028. This allocation will require preparation from states and recipients alike.
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The child tax credit is set to increase to $2,200 in 2026, with families likely noticing the benefit in their 2027 tax filings. Seniors over 65 would see a special temporary rise in their standard deduction by $6,000 this year, although it will expire in 2028. The overall standard deduction is scheduled for a $750 increase, which does not have an expiration date.
While the Senate-approved version of the bill faces deliberation in the House, potential amendments could alter policies, start dates, and financial implications for taxpayers.
Should the bill achieve full legislative approval, President Trump is hopeful for an imminent opportunity to sign it into law.
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
