As Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill hits the Senate, should GA worry?
The U.S. Senate is debating President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a sweeping tax-and-spending package that passed the U.S. House in May. The bill is drawing both praise and concern from officials and policy experts statewide.
If enacted, the legislation would bring significant changes to Georgia’s health care, food assistance, energy sector and tax policies.
Here is a breakdown of the ways in which Georgia could be affected:
Health care
The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that approximately 2.3 million Georgians are enrolled in Medicaid as of June 2024, representing about 19% of the state’s population and more than 800,000 Georgians rely on Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans for their health insurance coverage.
If the bill is passed the CBO predicts:
10.9 million more people, nationally, could become uninsured by 2034, including many Georgia residents.
Stricter work requirements and reduction of Medicaid funding, possibly affecting the 2.3 million people who use Medicaid in Georgia.
States may not be able to fully offset the federal cuts, so coverage losses could be substantial.
Food Assistance
Changing eligibility requirements could put a greater burden on state resources for those in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
As is, the bill would:
Shift at least 5% of costs to states, which could mean an additional $325 million annual expense for Georgia, based on the state’s current SNAP spending
Expand work requirements that limit eligibility for about 1.4 million Georgians who currently rely on SNAP
Taxes
The legislation would permanently extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts, lower income tax rates and increase the standard deduction.
It also introduces new provisions:
No federal taxes on tips, overtime or certain auto loan interest
Temporary $500 increase in the child tax credit
Expanded deductions for seniors and higher SALT deduction caps
Higher education
One of the most immediate impacts for Georgia could be in higher education.
In a report to the House Committee on Education, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated a $350 billion cut to Pell Grants, which help low-income students afford college.
According to the Educational Data Initiative, “51% of Pell Grant funds go to students whose families earn less than $20,000 annually – the largest majority,” and “88% of Pell Grant funds go to public universities.”
It also restructures the federal student loan system, eliminating subsidized loans, capping borrowing and narrowing repayment options.
The fallout of this could include:
New federal loans would accrue interest while students are in school and during deferment periods.
The lifetime borrowing cap would change for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as parental borrowers.
Future flexibility in repayment plans will be reduced.
Hardship deferments would be eliminated and general forbearance would be capped.
It could limit future presidential administrations from expanding borrower relief.
Sara Partridge, a higher education policy researcher at the Center for American Progress, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “These proposals would disproportionately hurt students from low- and middle-income families, without a doubt.”
Clean energy and jobs
To offset tax cuts, the bill would phase out clean energy tax credits established under the Biden administration.
According to the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, 82,163 Georgians are employed in the clean energy sector, which could see job losses and stalled projects as a result of the new bill.
The Senate is expected to debate the bill through June, and if passed, Georgia families, students, and state agencies should prepare for major changes. Until then, if you would like your voice heard, contact your representatives.
The “Big, Beautiful Bill” is being hotly debated in the country right now, and I’m interested to hear what you think. Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.
