U.S. Senate passes Clergy Act, sending ministers' Social Security opt-back-in bill to the president

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Sept. 30, passed the Clergy Act (H.R. 227) by unanimous consent and without amendment, according to the Senate Democratic Caucus's floor summary for the day and the Alabama Reporter. Because no senator objected, there was no recorded vote. The House of Representatives passed the same bill on April 27, 2026, by 350 votes to 5, according to the House Clerk's roll call. Having cleared both chambers in identical form, the bill now goes to President Donald Trump, who can sign it into law. The bill's formal title is "to allow a period in which members of the clergy may revoke their exemption from Social Security coverage, and for other purposes."

The bill has backers from both parties. In the House it was introduced in January 2025 by Rep. Vince Fong, a California Republican, and Baptist Press and the Baptist Standard report that Rep. Mike Thompson, a California Democrat, co-led it. The Senate companion bill (S. 639) was introduced in February 2025 by Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican, and Sen. Maggie Hassan, a New Hampshire Democrat. "Members of the clergy are pillars of so many communities across our nation. They should have the opportunity to enroll back in Social Security, and now they will," Britt said in a statement carried by the Alabama Reporter. Fong said he was "incredibly proud this legislation passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support."

Under current law, a minister who is conscientiously opposed to public insurance may, early in his or her ministry, choose to exempt ministry earnings from Social Security self-employment tax. That choice is normally permanent, and those who make it do not earn Social Security or Medicare benefits on that income. According to the bill text, the Clergy Act would let ordained, commissioned or licensed ministers, members of religious orders and Christian Science practitioners whose exemption is still in effect revoke it. They would have until the tax-filing deadline (including extensions) for their second taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 2028, and could choose to rejoin starting with either their 2029 or 2030 tax year. Rejoining would be permanent, and they could not opt out again. Within 90 days of enactment, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), working with the Social Security Administration (SSA), would have to give Congress a plan for telling eligible clergy about the window. Hassan's office has said that, under existing eligibility rules, those who rejoin would need about 10 years (40 quarters) of covered work to qualify for benefits. Congress opened similar windows in 1977, 1986 and 1999, according to Britt's office.

Southern Baptist agencies that have pressed for the bill welcomed the vote. GuideStone Financial Resources, the Southern Baptist Convention's benefits board, said the bill gives many eligible ministers a chance "to strengthen their financial security and resilience," and said it would publish materials to help pastors decide whether rejoining suits them. Evan Lenow, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), urged the president to sign it "and reopen the pathway for ministers to plan for their retirement through Social Security, if they so choose." John Litzler, general counsel of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), told the Baptist Standard that many ministers "were not even informed they had a choice" when they opted out. The Alabama Reporter notes that the bill has also been backed by the Church Alliance, a coalition of church benefit boards, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).