James Lankford (R-OK)
Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 5 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026 defines the purpose, duties, and professional requirements for chaplains in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It establishes specific advisory roles for Chief and Deputy Chaplains within these branches. The bill mandates that chaplains provide spiritual care and advise commanders on religious freedom and accommodations. It provides legal protections for chaplains to act according to their sincerely held religious beliefs without fear of censorship or retribution. Additionally, it prohibits forcing chaplains to perform duties contrary to their faith and allows for prosecution of those who violate these protections.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +8
Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion?
Strongly protects the religious exercise and beliefs of chaplains and service members.
- Scored +6
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
Codifies the privilege and confidentiality of communications with chaplains.
- Scored +4
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?
Protects religious expression from censorship for military chaplains.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Service Members and Families: The bill requires chaplains to meet the religious requirements and care for the spiritual needs of members of the Armed Forces, their dependents, and other authorized persons, even in combat environments (Section 3(a)(2)(B), Section 4(a)(2)(B), and Section 5(a)(2)(B)).
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Protection of Religious Freedom: Chaplains are tasked with advising and assisting commanders to ensure the free exercise of religion in military service (Section 3(a)(2)(A)(i), Section 4(a)(2)(A)(i), and Section 5(a)(2)(A)(i)).
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Privacy of Spiritual Counsel: The bill requires chaplains to maintain confidential, sacramental, and privileged communications when acting as spiritual advisors (Section 3(a)(2)(E), Section 4(a)(2)(E), and Section 5(a)(2)(E)).
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Safeguards for Chaplains: It protects chaplains from being forced to perform rituals or tasks contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs and prohibits retaliation or adverse personnel actions for refusing such assignments (Section 3(b)(4), Section 4(b)(4), and Section 5(b)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Criminal Penalties for Military Personnel: Members of the Armed Forces who violate the protections afforded to chaplains, such as assigning them tasks contrary to their beliefs, are subject to prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Section 3(b)(5), Section 4(b)(5), and Section 5(b)(5)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Codifies the privilege and confidentiality of communications with chaplains. Does this protect the individual right to speak freely? — Protects religious expression from censorship for military chaplains. Does this give the federal government more power? — Sets federal mandates and criminal penalties via the UCMJ for chaplain protections.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion? — Strongly protects the religious exercise and beliefs of chaplains and service members. Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life? — Protects chaplains from censorship in their religious duties.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — Provides structured spiritual care and crisis response for service members.
- 9/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota