Renewing the Opportunity Zone Program

The One Big Beautiful Bill enhances the Opportunity Zone (OZ) Program and makes the incentives permanent. Since the TCJA was passed in 2017 through 2021, this program has created an estimated 17,000 jobs in Minnesota and led to the construction of about 4,100 housing units through 2024. However, my colleagues and I discovered that the program was under-utilized in rural communities. That is why we worked hard to make sure that the changes in this bill targeted rural areas. The bill establishes a new “Qualified Rural Opportunity Fund” for areas with fewer than 50,000 people. This new fund will make incentivize greater investment in rural areas by making the tax treatment of rural properties significantly more advantageous than investments in urban areas.  These enhancements will deliver $100+ billion of new investment with extra focus on unlocking jobs for our rural communities.

Expanding Access to Home and Community-Based Care

The One Big Beautiful Bill allows states to broaden eligibility for home and community-based care (HCBS) by allowing states to request waivers covering individuals who don't meet current standards that would typically need nursing home-level care to access HCBS. These waivers also give the power back to the states, allowing them to set enrollment caps, define eligibility criteria, and specify what will be covered. To implement these expanded programs more quickly, the federal government will provide $50 million in FY26 and $100 million in FY27.

As people get older, it is important to be able to keep as much independence and be near loved ones for as long as possible. These provisions will allow more people to delay a move to a live-in facility and stay close to their friends and families while they receive care from home.

Expanding Broadband Access

Access to reliable broadband internet is an ongoing challenge in our rural communities. The One Big Beautiful Bill includes provisions to directly expand access and encourage investment to expedite expansion. It allocates an extra $500 million to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. And, the bill's tax provisions are intended to accelerate fiber deployment.

Being able to stay connected makes it easier for people to choose to build their lives in our beautiful rural areas, and I am excited to see these programs take root in greater Minnesota.

Rural Transformation Program

The One Big Beautiful Bill makes a historic investment in rural healthcare with the Rural Transformation Program. This program provides new funding to states for a range of uses designed to make rural healthcare more effective and sustainable for the long term, including $50 billion in targeted funds for rural hospitals. This bill refocuses federal priorities to ensure rural providers have the resources they need to support communities like those across the 7th District. 

Adds a provision creating the “Rural Transformation Program” to establish a $50 billion funding stream through CMS for state investments in rural health and support for rural health providers. Funding for this program lasts for 5 years, starting in 2026.

No Tax on Tips or Overtime

Not only will the typical hardworking family see an increase in take-home pay of over $10,000 per year, but as President Trump promised, the One Big Beautiful Bill eliminates tax on tips and overtime. This means overtime and tipped workers will save nearly $1,500 annually.

More money in people's pockets means more money to put back into the economy. With all the gig and hourly workers in greater Minnesota, this is going to be great for those individuals, their families, and their greater communities.

Thank you for reading!

fischbach.house.gov

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