The massive budget bill passed by the House includes new tax breaks for tipped workers and those who get overtime.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., joined from left by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. at the Capitol in Washington, April 8, 2025. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a tax and spending bill that proposes to usher in major changes to Medicaid. AP

America faced a once-in-a-century health crisis that crashed the economy and threatened the lives of millions. Republicans and Democrats came together to pass a forceful, and expensive, emergency response that helped prevent permanent scarring to the economy.

The budget bill passed by the House includes a provision to quadruple the state and local tax deduction, a boon for some homeowners.

The House-passed bill includes a large tax cut, as well as more money for defense and immigration enforcement, financed in part by slashing health, nutrition, education and clean energy programs.

"There will be no retirement. I'll die on the job," James Southern, 63, told BI. He doesn't see an end in sight to his student-loan payments.

On Friday evening, the state Senate passed House Bill 2 unanimously, 31-0. The measure now heads to the Texas House where it's also expected to pass.

The House has preliminarily approved Senate Bill 10 even though a similar Louisiana law was deemed unconstitutional. Supporters say Christianity is core to U.S. history.