US S264

Bill

US S264

The Free Speech Fairness Act

Introduced
02/01/2017

In Committee
02/01/2017

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2018

Introduced Session

115th Congress

Bill Summary

The Free Speech Fairness Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a tax-exempt organization to make certain statements related to a political campaign without losing its tax-exempt status. An organization may not lose its tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) or be deemed to have participated in, or intervened in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, solely because of the content of any statement that: (1) is made in the ordinary course of the organization's regular and customary activities in carrying out its exempt purpose, and (2) results in the organization incurring not more than de minimis incremental expenses.

AI Summary

This bill, the Free Speech Fairness Act, amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-exempt organizations, such as charities (section 501(c)(3) organizations), to make certain statements related to political campaigns without losing their tax-exempt status. The bill states that an organization will not be deemed to have participated in or intervened in a political campaign solely due to the content of a statement made in the ordinary course of its regular and customary activities to carry out its tax-exempt purpose, as long as the statement results in no more than de minimis (negligible) incremental expenses for the organization. This change would allow these organizations to engage in some political speech without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (6)

James Lankford (R)*, Roy Blunt (R), Ted Cruz (R), Rand Paul (R), Marco Rubio (R), Luther Strange (R),

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (on 02/01/2017)

Official Document

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/264/all-info

(4 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/264/all-info
BillText	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s264/BILLS-115s264is.pdf
Bill	https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s264/BILLS-115s264is.pdf.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
HR1	Tax Cuts and Jobs Act	Became Public Law No: 115-97. (TXT \| PDF)	Related
HR781	Free Speech Fairness Act	Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.	Same As
HR88	Shiloh National Military Park Boundary Adjustment and Parker's Crossroads Battlefield Designation Act	Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.	Related
HRes619	Providing for consideration of the bill (H.B. 1) to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, and providing for proceedings during the period from November 17, 2017, through November 27, 2017.	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.	Similar To

Bill > S264

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary