HCONRES4FEDERALin_committee

Congressional Resolution Supporting Fraternal Benefit Societies

Original title: Expressing the sense of Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies have historically provided and continue to provide critical benefits to the people and communities of the United States.

January 28, 2025

taxation nonprofit organizations fraternal benefit societies charitable giving social safety net

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Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Last action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.Jan 28, 2025

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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The Frame

What this does

This resolution signals Congressional support for maintaining the current tax-exempt status of fraternal benefit societies, which currently impacts the tax obligations of these organizations and the funding available for their community-based charitable activities.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Fraternal benefit societies

The resolution explicitly supports their current tax-exempt status and encourages the promotion of their activities.

Federal government

The resolution frames the societies as partners that reduce the burden on government safety net programs.

What changed

Current stage: in_committee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This resolution expresses the formal opinion of Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies provide essential charitable and social support to communities. It affirms the value of their tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code and encourages the continued promotion of their work.

Why It Matters

Key Facts

The resolution is a non-binding statement of Congressional opinion (Sense of Congress).
Fraternal benefit societies are recognized as having approximately 7,000,000 members in the United States.
The annual value of work performed by these societies is estimated at more than $3,800,000,000.
Congress has provided tax exemptions for these societies since 1909.
The exemption is currently codified under section 501(c)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The resolution asserts that these societies provide services that the government cannot address.
The resolution claims that these societies reduce pressure on government safety net programs by helping members achieve financial security.
Congress formally resolves that the tax exemption for these societies continues to generate significant returns for the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this resolution change the tax laws for fraternal benefit societies?

No. This is a '' resolution, which expresses the opinion of the legislative body but does not change existing law or tax code.

What is a fraternal benefit society?

According to the document, it is a mutual aid organization created to provide life, health, accident, and other benefits to members, while also engaging in charitable and volunteer activities.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Bipartisan Consensus on Tax Exemptions

The resolution features a high number of co-sponsors from both major political parties, indicating strong cross-party support for the tax-exempt status of these specific organizations.

Mr. LaHood Ms. Moore of Wisconsin

Connected Entities

otherInternal Revenue Code of 1986“The legal framework governing the tax-exempt status of fraternal benefit societi”Map →

organizationCommittee on Ways and Means“The committee to which the resolution was referred.”Map →

personMr. LaHood“Primary sponsor of the resolution in the House.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance30
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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