What if a few key policy fixes could unleash $100+ billion in new Opportunity Zone investments? In this live OZ Office Hours episode, Jimmy Atkinson breaks down five actionable reforms that Congress should consider for Opportunity Zones 2.0, and explains how industry stakeholders can help shape the legislation before it’s finalized later this summer.

Join Jimmy the first Monday of every month at 3:00 PM Eastern Time, to get your Opportunity Zones questions answered live.

About The Opportunity Zones Podcast

Hosted by OpportunityZones.com founder Jimmy Atkinson, The Opportunity Zones Podcast features guest interviews from fund managers, advisors, policymakers, tax professionals, and other foremost experts in the Opportunity Zones industry.

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Episode Summary

In this live OZ Office Hours episode, Jimmy Atkinson delivers an in-depth walkthrough of his five top recommendations for improving Opportunity Zones policy as Congress considers extending and refining the OZ incentive in the 2025 tax package.

Jimmy also previews his OpportunityZones.com advocacy campaign—featuring an open sign-on letter to lawmakers—and outlines how listeners can get involved ahead of his June 19 OZ Pitch Day event.

The Legislative Backdrop

Jimmy opens by discussing the status of the 2025 reconciliation bill—recently passed by the House—and the OZ-related provisions it includes. With the Senate now in session, attention shifts to what changes may be introduced to strengthen the program further.

Five Policy Recommendations for OZ 2.0

Jimmy walks through five key improvements proposed in his open letter to Congress:

1. Make the Program Permanent
   • Replace the current sunset date with a rolling deferral mechanism
   • Redesignate OZ tracts every 10 years using updated census data
   • Include statutory transition language between redesignation rounds
2. Remove Barriers to Operating Business Investment
   • Permit interim gain relief so capital can be redeployed within OZs without triggering tax events
   • Ease tangible asset tests to help existing businesses qualify as QOZBs
3. Create a Transition Framework to Avoid Capital Freezes
   • Ensure continuity across 2026–2027 so investors and developers aren’t left in limbo
   • Allow projects already in the pipeline to qualify under current or new OZ maps
4. Enable Fund-to-Fund Investments
   • Allow QOFs to invest into other QOFs to enhance capital flow and flexibility
   • Solve pain points around mergers and project-level structuring
5. Allow Meaningful Participation by Non-Gain Capital
   • Expand OZ eligibility beyond capital gains
   • Raise or remove the $10,000 lifetime cap on ordinary income inclusion proposed in the House bill

Advocacy Call to Action

Jimmy invites viewers to read and sign the full letter at OpportunityZones.com/advocacy, where over 200 industry stakeholders have already signed. The letter will be sent to Sens. Tim Scott and Mike Crapo, Reps. Jason Smith and Mike Kelly, and key White House and Treasury officials.

OZ Pitch Day Preview

He also previews the agenda for OZ Pitch Day, coming June 19. The event will feature:

• A legislative panel covering OZ 2.0, bonus depreciation, and SALT caps
• Live investor pitches from YourSpace America, Capital Square, Altes Capital, Urban Catalyst, and others
• A Q&A session with OZ experts including Blake Christian and Jim Lang

Conclusion

Jimmy closes by promoting upcoming OZ Insiders dinners, including a Manhattan Beach gathering and future meetups in Fort Worth and Las Vegas. He encourages listeners to subscribe, sign the letter, and stay engaged in the push for OZ reform.