# 119-s-2908: Lifting Local Communities Act

119-s-2908, Lifting Local Communities Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2908
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2908
- Congress: 119
- Title: Lifting Local Communities Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-18
- Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Equal treatment for religious organizations in federally funded social services.** This bill would require federal, state, and pass-through entities to consider faith-based groups on the same terms as other private organizations when awarding federal financial assistance and to protect their religious character and autonomy. - Religious organizations: They could apply for and receive federal financial assistance on the same basis as nonreligious groups. They may keep religious names and symbols, hire and govern by their religious tenets, and continue their religious mission while running federally funded programs. - Families and covered beneficiaries: People in need would have expanded access to faith-based providers as options. If a beneficiary objects to a provider’s religious character or affiliation, the government must provide a referral to an alternative service within a reasonable period and of substantially similar value. - State, local, and pass-through entities: Awarding entities must not impose extra assurances, notices, or selection rules on religious groups that are not required of nonreligious groups. States and localities may not enforce laws that conflict with these protections and audits of federal funds may be limited to segregated federal accounts.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] (R-OK), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (R-SC), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More access for faith-based providers: benefit, medium. If enacted, religious groups would be able to apply for federal social service funding like other private groups. Awarding agencies and pass-through entities could not disqualify a group because of its religion. Funded religious groups could keep religious names, symbols, and hire people who follow…
- Religious groups can sue to enforce: benefit, low. If enacted, a religious organization could sue if its rights under this section are violated. Courts could grant relief and award attorney's fees to a winning organization.
- Federal preemption of state rules: mixed, high. If enacted, this section would override earlier federal laws and policies that conflict with it. States and localities could not enforce rules covered by this section for federally funded programs. Later federal laws could only limit this section if they specifically name it.
- Protections and referrals for service users: mixed, medium. If enacted, organizations getting federal social service money could not deny or treat you worse because of religion. If you object to a provider's religious character and are eligible, the government must give a referral. The referral must point to a nearby, substantially similar service within a…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-3752: SAVE America Act
- 119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026
- 119-s-401: Fair Access to Banking Act
- 119-s-84: Sarah's Law
- 119-s-558: Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-2908 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2908)

## Related
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-3752: SAVE America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3752)
- [119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5025)
- [119-s-401: Fair Access to Banking Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-401)
- [119-s-84: Sarah's Law](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-84)
- [119-s-558: Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-558)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2908 (as of 2026-04-21).