Death Tax Relief Testimonials in Praise of Big Beautiful Bill

Katelynn Dynneson Larson, rancher (Sidney, Montana):

“Without the estate tax reforms in the One Big Beautiful Bill — like the increased exemption and protections for working ranch land — ranches like ours would have likely had to decide whether to sell off cattle or land just to cover the tax bill when it was time to pass it down. Now we have a fair shot at keeping the whole ranch together for the next generation.” — Katelynn Dynneson Larson

Dennis Friest, fifth generation farmer (Iowa):

“One of my goals when I started farming was to be able to pass this farm onto the next generation, and I’m doing that. I feel very good about that.”

“It’s definitely been a welcome blessing to have this in federal law. It has been a long time in coming.” — Dennis Friest

Bear Valley Ranch (Parkfield, California):

“The estate tax, more commonly known as the death tax, is a significant threat to multi-generational family businesses and cattle operations. The increased estate tax exemption to $15 million per individual / $30 million per couple in the One Big Beautiful Bill will protect many family operations from being forced to sell and it will help keep agricultural land in production.

In the NCBA Tax Survey, over one-third of respondents reported having been impacted by the estate tax; and of those respondents, 35 percent have been impacted more than once. In addition to the federal estate tax, 40 percent of respondents anticipate being subject to state-level estate tax. This helps explain why 27 percent of respondents believe the estate tax is their greatest tax concern. NCBA Tax Survey results also show that some respondents have allocated significant financial resources to comply with the estate tax and protect their business. For example, 18 percent of respondents have been forced to sell land, livestock, or other assets to pay for the estate tax, and 9 percent have taken out a personal loan or lien to pay for the estate tax. Sadly, 25 percent of respondents were prevented from investing in their operation due to the estate tax. Alarmingly, 61 percent of NCBA Tax Survey respondents would have been impacted if the previous estate tax threshold expired at the end of 2025. The increased exemption is a huge weight off the backs of families who expect a generational transfer in the near future.” — July 26, 2025 testimony of Kevin Kester, owner of Bear Valley Ranch, on behalf of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, submitted to House Ways and Means Committee

Jerry Akers, small business owner (Iowa):

“These provisions allow family businesses like mine to be passed down to the next generation without selling or paying even higher taxes.” — Jerry Akers

Corina Brant, farmer (Indiana):

“[The Big Beautiful Bill] not only helps alleviate the financial burden on young farmers but also helps set up the legacy of the generational family farm.” — Corina Brant

Linda Fowler, farmer and small business owner (Tennessee):

“Our family has two small businesses. One is a fifth generation farm. The other is a third generation grain elevator. We would like to be able to keep those businesses and be able to pass those down to our children.” — Linda Fowler

Randy Kron, farmer (Indiana):

“We are excited about this bill and making the estate tax [cut] permanent. On our farm my wife and I were first generation, and it is important to us to pass it along to our son, the next generation.” — Randy Kron

Terry Hayhurst, farmer (Indiana):

“Because the estate tax [cut] is being put into permanence, because my father and grandfather were able to pass the farm on to me, I will continue to be able to pass down the farm to future generations.” — Terry Hayhurst