On July 4th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law a significant piece of legislation dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill” during a military family picnic on the South Lawn of the White House.

Various policy groups are predicting that this law will sharply affect Tennessee, particularly regarding cuts to Medicaid, adjustments to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and new tax cuts linked to changes in SNAP benefits.

The tax cuts will kick in quickly, while the full ramifications of social safety net reductions are expected to unfold gradually over the coming years.

A key provision involves new job requirements for adults on Medicaid and SNAP, which many believe will make it harder for individuals to maintain their benefits due to added documentation demands.

According to KFF, a health policy organization, around 68,000 Tennesseans may lose access to essential insurance through the ACA because of these changes. This aligns with forecasts from U.S. House Democrats suggesting even bleaker outcomes, with an estimated loss of 170,000 people from insurance rolls.

In Tennessee, Medicaid’s structure, specifically TennCare, is likely to face reductions, as the state has not expanded its program to extend insurance coverage to more low-income individuals. The Tennessee Judicial Center notes that up to 300,000 individuals could gain Medicaid access if coverage under the ACA were expanded.

Additionally, SNAP benefits are anticipated to decrease by about 20% for Tennesseans. As of 2022, nearly 700,000 individuals in the state received around $1.4 billion in SNAP assistance, a program that primarily supports families with children.

The income tax reduction associated with Trump’s legislation could be roughly $7 billion, based on analyses using U.S. Census data. However, most of the tax relief is projected to benefit Tennessee’s wealthiest households.

Who supported the bill?

All Republican lawmakers from Tennessee backed the bill, along with both GOP U.S. Senators from the state.

Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn praised the legislation, stating it would deliver significant tax cuts to families recovering from past economic strains.

The lone dissenter from Tennessee’s delegation was Democrat Steve Cohen from Memphis, who criticized the bill as morally flawed, arguing that it prioritizes the wealthy at the expense of the less fortunate.

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