H.R. 8591: No Capital Gains Tax on Family Farms Act

The 'No Capital Gains Tax on Family Farms Act' (H.R. 8591) is a proposed law that aims to make it easier for family members to transfer ownership of farms without facing capital gains taxes. Under current tax laws, when a farmer sells their land to a family member, they may have to pay capital gains tax on the profit from the sale. This bill would change that by allowing such sales to occur tax-free, provided the land has been used as a farm for at least two of the previous eight years and is sold to a qualified family member, such as a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, sibling, or their spouses. To prevent quick resales for profit, the new owner must hold the property for at least ten years; after this period, the property's tax basis would be adjusted to its fair market value at the time of the original sale. This measure is intended to help keep farms within families and reduce the financial pressure to sell farmland to developers.

Supporters of the bill, including its sponsors Representatives Thomas Massie and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, argue that it will help sustain multi-generational family farms by reducing the financial burden associated with transferring farm ownership within families. They believe that by eliminating capital gains taxes on these transactions, the bill will make it more feasible for family members to continue farming operations without the pressure to sell land to developers. This perspective is highlighted in a press release from Representative Massie's office, which emphasizes the bill's potential to preserve family-owned farms and maintain agricultural traditions. ([massie.house.gov](https://massie.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395822&utm_source=openai))

Critics of the bill raise concerns about its potential unintended consequences. An analysis by the Congressional Auditor points out that the bill does not require the new owner to continue farming the land, nor does it limit eligibility based on farm size, income, or wealth. This could lead to scenarios where the tax benefits are utilized by wealthier individuals or families without ensuring the land remains in agricultural use. Additionally, the absence of continued-use requirements may allow for land banking, where properties are held for ten years to benefit from the tax basis adjustment without contributing to active farming. These factors could undermine the bill's goal of preserving working farms and may result in unequal access to land benefits. ([poliscore.us](https://poliscore.us/2026/bill/hr/8591?utm_source=openai))

The bill H.R. 8591: No Capital Gains Tax on Family Farms Act, sponsored by Thomas Massie, does not appear to have any direct conflicts of interest based on the campaign finance data provided. The sponsor's top donor industries do not overlap with the subject matter of the bill, which pertains to the taxation of family farms. Additionally, the lobbying activity in this bill's policy area does not involve any of the sponsor's top donors. Therefore, there is no evidence of a money trail that could suggest a conflict of interest. It is important for voters to know that the analysis of potential conflicts is based on the available data and does not necessarily capture all possible sources of influence. However, based on the data provided, there is no apparent conflict of interest.

Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.

Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026