IRS could not treat views on marriage or gender as against public policy
Placed on the calendarH.R. 9722Latest action
Sponsor: Blake D. Moore · Representative · UT
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act of 2026
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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The IRS could not use a group's views on marriage, sexuality or gender identity to deny tax-exempt status, starting with tax years after Dec. 31, 2025.
60-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill changes the part of the federal tax code that decides which organizations can be tax-exempt. It adds two rules for how the IRS judges whether a group has a religious purpose. A religious belief or practice about marriage, sexuality or gender identity could not be treated as going against the law or public policy, and a belief could count as religious even if it is not required by or central to a religion's teachings.
Who does it affect?
Churches, religious schools and other faith-based nonprofits with traditional or other views on these topics, plus the IRS, which would apply the new rules. People who work for, attend or receive services from these groups could also be affected.
Why does it matter?
Tax-exempt groups must now operate in line with established public policy, a standard that came from court cases such as the 1983 Supreme Court decision in Bob Jones University v. United States. Under the bill, a group's views on these topics could not be used to say it fails that standard, and the second rule would widen what counts as a religious belief. How it works in practice would depend on how the IRS and courts interpret it.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Based on the “Reported in House” text of Aug 27, 2026.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJul 16, 2026
- House committee
- House voteYou are here · Aug 27, 2026
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: it was placed on the , and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 680.