The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, Explained
Practice owners: Get ready to make the most out of this new tax legislation.
Christopher Lopez, OD
Modern Optometry 
As an optometrist, staying financially ahead means more than billing and budgeting—it’s also about adapting to policy changes that may affect your bottom line. The newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act1 extends and expands The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,2 offering substantial tax advantages to optometry practice owners. Simultaneously, big changes to student loan repayment are on the horizon. Here’s what you need to know to position your practice (and your personal finances) for success. STUDENT LOAN SHAKE-UP If you’re still paying off student loans or mentoring new graduates, this section is important. Beginning in 2026, federal student loans will be capped, maxing out at $50,000 per year and $200,000 per lifetime for graduate loans. In addition, Graduate PLUS loans3 will be eliminated in 2026, which could pressure schools to reduce tuition but might also limit how much future optometry students can borrow, making private financing more common. More critically, a new repayment system, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), will replace all current income-driven plans (eg, Saving on a Valuable Education [SAVE], Pay as You Earn, Revised Pay as You Earn). Loan payments are based on gross income. Unlike SAVE, which excludes 225% of the poverty line, RAP uses your full adjusted gross income.