Several Additional Provisions in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Are Subject to 60-Vote Threshold, According to Senate Parliamentarian

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Parliamentarian advises additional provisions in the Republican “One Big, Beautiful Bill” violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule and would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if included in the bill. The below provisions are in the following Senate Committee jurisdictions: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and Commerce, Science, and Technology. Guidance pertaining to several additional provisions, including the provision in the Commerce title concerning AI policy, is still under review pending further information.

“The Senate Parliamentarian has begun providing guidance that certain provisions in the Republicans’ One Big, Beautiful Betrayal will be subject to the Byrd Rule – ultimately meaning they will need to be stripped from the bill or altered to comply with the rules of reconciliation,” said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley. “As much as Senate Republicans would prefer to throw out the rule book and advance their conservative families lose and billionaires win agenda, this process has rules and Democrats are making sure those rules are enforced. We will be fighting this bill every single day until Republicans bring it to the floor.”

Provisions Subject to a 60-Vote Byrd Rule Point of Order

Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Fire Damaged Pier. This section appropriates $250 million to Coast Guard stations significantly damaged by fire in 2025, which can only refer to one on South Padre Island, Texas. (Section 0001(a)(10)(E))

NASA Space Vehicle Transfer. This section appropriates $85 million to transfer the Space Shuttle currently on display at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum to a nonprofit in Houston, Texas. (Section 0005)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Matching Funds. This section mandates that states cover a portion of SNAP benefits with the state share escalating with payment error rates. (Section 10105)

Alien SNAP Eligibility. This section removes SNAP eligibility for immigrants who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents, with certain exceptions. (Section 10108)

Suspension of Permanent Price Support Authority. This section extends the suspension of permanent price support authority, which has traditionally been addressed in the Farm Bill. (Section 10314)

Still Under Review

Support for Artificial Intelligence. This provision provides federal aid to states under the condition that states agree not to regulate AI. (Section 0012)

The Parliamentarian’s advice is based on whether a provision is appropriate for reconciliation and conforms to the limitations of the Byrd Rule; it is not a judgement on the relative merits of a particular policy.

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