Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would stop the federal government from treating an organization’s views on marriage, sexuality, or gender identity as a strike against its religious claim. It would change how tax-exempt status and access to federal grants and contracts are evaluated so faith-based groups face fewer questions about those beliefs.
Show full summary
- Religious nonprofits, schools, and societies would be judged for tax-exempt status without considering their beliefs or practices on marriage, sexuality, or gender identity. The change would apply to taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.
- Faith-based employers that apply for or receive federal grants, loans, or contracts would be protected from government actions that penalize hiring or employment practices aligned with their religious standards. Those protections reference legal defenses in the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the First Amendment.
- Employees and job applicants at religious employers working under federal funding could face hiring and workplace rules based on the employer’s religious standards. This applies across contracts, grants, purchase orders, and cooperative agreements.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Tax rules for religious organizations
This bill would change how agencies decide if an organization's purpose is "religious" for tax-exempt status. Determinations would be made without regard to the organization's beliefs or practices about marriage, sexuality, or gender identity, or whether those beliefs conflict with law or public policy. A belief would not be disqualified as religious just because it is not central to a system of religion. The rule would apply for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
Protections for religious employers with federal funds
This bill would prohibit federal agencies from discriminating against religious employers that apply for or receive federal grants, loans, contracts, purchase orders, or cooperative agreements. It would protect hiring and employment practices that are consistent with the employer's right to hire people who share its religious beliefs and follow its religious standards. The protections would incorporate Title VII (sections 702(a) and 703(e)(2)), ADA section 103(d), the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the First Amendment. These rules would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
UT • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
VA • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
TX • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]
TX • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1]
AZ • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 3/30/2026
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]
MI • R
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]
MO • R
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov