Rubio introduces bill to safeguard tax-exempt groups from federal regulations

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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will introduce a bill Wednesday that aims to protect the independence of tax-exempt organizations from being subject to erroneous federal regulations.

The bill, called the Safeguarding Charity Act, comes after two recent court decisions ruled private organizations are subject to federal restrictions simply due to their tax-exempt status.

"Civic organizations like churches, schools, and charities are crucial to our communities," Rubio said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "I remain concerned by recent court decisions that could subject these organizations to burdensome federal regulations simply because they are tax-exempt."

The bill "wouldprotect these organizations from the government’s politicized battles," Rubio said.

Rubio's bill comes as recent federal court decisions assert that private institutions, based on their tax-exempt status, could face federal restrictions. This poses a risk of penalties for private schools, churches and nonprofit charities that fail to comply with onerous and politically charged regulations.

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The courts deemed tax-exempt status as a form of "federal financial assistance," as seen in the cases of Buettner-Hartsoe v. Baltimore Lutheran High School in 2021 and E.H. v. Valley Christian Academy in 2022.

These court decisions