PRIA Logo™
119-hr-3163119th CongressWALLET

Military Chaplains Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Self, Keith [R-TX-3]

Introduced

Summary

Protects military chaplains' right to practice and minister according to their sincerely held beliefs across all services. The bill would create uniform duties, definitions, and legal protections for chaplains in the Army, Navy (including Marine Corps and Coast Guard), Air Force, and Space Force.

Show full summary
  • Chaplains: Codifies duties that let chaplains counsel, pray, lead services, provide religious training, and offer crisis and suicide-prevention support while preserving confidentiality for privileged and sacramental communications.
  • Services and commanders: Requires chiefs of chaplains to advise service secretaries, issue guidance on religious-endorsing organizations and qualifications, and furnish facilities and transportation to help chaplains carry out ministry.
  • Accountability: Prohibits censorship, coercion, and adverse personnel actions for performing official religious duties and makes such violations prosecutable under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, with the President directed to issue implementing regulations within one year.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stronger protections and enforcement for military chaplains

If enacted, military chaplains would get uniform duties and protections across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force. Chaplains could counsel, pray, and run services consistent with their beliefs and endorsing group. Private, sacramental, or privileged talks would stay confidential unless the person allows sharing. Commanders would need to provide space and transport, and help members reach another chaplain when needed. No one could force a chaplain to perform rites that conflict with their beliefs, or punish them for refusing. Breaking these protections could be prosecuted under Article 134, with rules and the Manual updated within one year.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Self, Keith [R-TX-3]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/1/2025

  • Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]

    IL • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

  • Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation