HR8117119th CongressWALLET

Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Moore (UT)

Introduced

Summary

Protecting religious organizations' rights in tax treatment and federal funding. This bill would stop beliefs about marriage, sexuality, or gender identity from being used to disqualify an organization from having a religious purpose for tax-exempt status. It would also prevent treating those beliefs as non-religious just because they are not compelled or central to a system of religion. Section 2 would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. The act is titled the Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026.

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  • Religious organizations: Would face narrower standards for being recognized as having a religious purpose for tax exemption. Marriage, sexuality, and gender-identity beliefs could not be used to deny religious-purpose recognition.
  • Religious employers that receive federal financial assistance: Would be protected from federal agency actions that disadvantage them for employment decisions that align with their religious beliefs. The protection explicitly references exemptions and defenses in the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the First Amendment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Tax rules for religious groups

This bill would add a rule to section 501 about what counts as a "religious purpose" for tax-exempt status. It would forbid using an organization's beliefs or practices about marriage, sexuality, or gender identity to deny religious-purpose recognition. It would also say a belief is still religious even if it is not central to or compelled by a system of religion. The rule would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Hiring protections for religious employers

This bill would bar any Federal department, agency, or branch from discriminating against or disadvantaging religious employers when they apply for or receive federal grants, loans, contracts, or other financial assistance. Covered employers include religious corporations, associations, religious educational institutions, and religious societies. The protection would cover employment actions and practices that are consistent with the employer's religious beliefs and standards and it references existing exemptions in Title VII, the ADA, RFRA, and the First Amendment. If enacted, this would protect religious employers but could limit hiring or job options for people who do not share those employers' beliefs.

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Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Moore (UT)

UT • R

Cosponsors

  • Cline

    VA • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Fulcher

    ID • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Gooden

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Tenney

    NY • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Owens

    UT • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Moran

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Schweikert

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Mann

    KS • R

    Sponsored 3/27/2026

  • Steube

    FL • R

    Sponsored 3/30/2026

  • Grothman

    WI • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Walberg

    MI • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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