Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026

This bill rewrites federal law on military chaplains in the Army, Navy, and Air Force (which also serves the Space Force). It defines chaplains' duties, such as advising commanders on religious matters, leading religious services, counseling, and keeping private communications confidential. It says chaplains may carry out their duties according to their own religious beliefs and the tenets of their endorsing religious organization, and it bars other service members from requiring chaplains to act against those beliefs or punishing them for refusing. Violations could be prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The bill also creates or restructures deputy chief of chaplains positions at general or flag officer rank and defines who qualifies as a chaplain.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Keith Self Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors