May 8, 2025
“I’m supporting this bill to give hardworking families and farmers relief from the costly tax burden that makes it hard—or even impossible—for them to provide for our communities for generations.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) has joined Sen. John Thune’s (R-S.D.) Death Tax Repeal Act. The bill would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, known as the death tax, because that tax can cripple family-run farms, imposing an unfair and costly tax on the transfer of property, land and other assets from a deceased family member to the family’s heirs.
“Ohio’s family small business owners and farmers spend a lifetime feeding and fueling our nation, and they often hope to pass down their businesses to the next generation. I’m supporting this bill to give hardworking families and farmers relief from the costly tax burden that makes it hard—or even impossible—for them to provide for our communities for generations,” said Husted.
“Family farms and ranches play a vital role in our economy and are the lifeblood of rural communities in South Dakota. Losing even one of them to the death tax is one too many. It’s time to put an end to this punishing, burdensome tax once and for all so that family farms, ranches and small businesses can grow and thrive without costly estate planning or massive tax burdens that can threaten their viability,” said Thune.
Individuals and families own about 95% of small businesses, farms and ranches in the U.S. The bill would enable these multigenerational businesses to continue to support families without requiring them to pay a devastating tax upon the death of a family member.
Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) have also cosponsored the bill.
Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Full text of the bill is available here.