Bill · H.R. 9722· House(119-HR-9722)
Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/16/2026
- Last activity
- 8/27/2026 — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 680.
- Sponsored by
- Blake Moore
- Cosponsors
- - 11 - 0
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is called the "Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026." It proposes to change the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 regarding how the tax-exempt status of religious organizations is determined. Specifically, it states that religious beliefs or practices about gender identity, sexuality, or marriage will not be seen as inconsistent with public policy or law. It also says a belief does not have to be central to a religion to be considered a religious belief. These changes would apply to taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.
Yes
Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion?+8
Protects religious organizations from losing tax-exempt status based on their beliefs regarding marriage and sexuality.
The opposite
Would LGBTQ people be better off under this?-7
Protects the tax status of organizations that may exclude or oppose LGBTQ+ rights based on religious beliefs.
Does this expand the rights of LGBTQ people?-5
Protects the tax-exempt status of organizations that hold religious beliefs contrary to LGBTQ+ identities and marriages.
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?-5
Protects tax exemptions for organizations with religious beliefs regarding gender identity that may conflict with gender equality norms.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Tax-Exempt Status: Religious organizations with specific beliefs regarding marriage, sexuality, or gender identity cannot have those beliefs used as a reason to claim they are inconsistent with law or public policy, which helps them keep their tax-exempt status (Section 2(a)(1)).
-
Broader Recognition of Beliefs: People or organizations can have their beliefs treated as religious beliefs even if those beliefs are not central to a system of religion or compelled by one (Section 2(a)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly listed in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For L G B T Q Community-7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Religious Freedom+8Improves Gender Equality-5Improves L G B T Q Rights-5
- 8/27/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-779.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 680.
- 7/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/22/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 16.
- 7/20/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 7/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Ken CalvertRepublican · California
Ben ClineRepublican · Virginia
Glenn GrothmanRepublican · Wisconsin
Lance GoodenRepublican · Texas
Mike KennedyRepublican · Utah
Tracey MannRepublican · Kansas
Nathaniel MoranRepublican · Texas
Celeste MaloyRepublican · Utah
Burgess OwensRepublican · Utah
W. SteubeRepublican · Florida
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York