SIMI VALLEY, CA -A recent congressional field hearing in California spotlighted how “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) could deliver meaningful support to U.S. agriculture. Held July 26 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the House Ways and Means Committee invited producers and business leaders to testify on the bill’s impact.
California rancher Kevin Kester told lawmakers the OBBB Act would ease tax burdens for multi-generation operations. Provisions like a permanent estate tax exemption, full expensing for equipment, and continuation of the 20% small business deduction were cited as essential for producers facing tight margins and high capital needs. Kester also emphasized the bill’s livestock-specific measures, including expanded disaster aid, improved indemnity coverage, and investments in animal health.
The bill’s supporters said permanent tax certainty would help producers plan, invest, and survive market shocks. Farm groups also pointed to reforms that strengthen crop insurance, boost commodity reference prices, and expand support for new and beginning farmers.
Lawmakers said the hearing was a chance to bring rural voices into the national tax conversation. Ranchers, in turn, stressed the need for fiscal policies that reflect agricultural realities, from drought risk to generational transfer.