Good Friday Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8150
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-15T01:16:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Good Friday Act of 2026" (H.R. 8150) aims to require the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff (lowered to half the height of the staff as a sign of mourning or respect) on specific dates tied to the lunar calendar after the spring equinox, which align with Good Friday and Holy Saturday in the Christian calendar.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 7(m) of title 4, United States Code, which governs flag display rules.
- Mandates that the flag be flown at half-staff on the first Friday and Saturday after the full Moon occurring on or after the spring equinox (typically late March).
- This requirement is added immediately after the existing rule for Armed Forces Day.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds two new mandatory half-staff days to the list in Section 7(m), which already includes dates like Memorial Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and Patriot Day.
- The dates are defined using astronomical terms (spring equinox and full Moon) rather than religious holidays, providing a precise, non-religious calculation method.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Federal buildings, military installations, and other facilities must comply with flag-lowering protocols on these two days each year, potentially increasing administrative coordination.
- Citizens: Encourages private individuals, businesses, and organizations to follow suit voluntarily, as flag code guidelines often influence public practice.
- No direct impact on international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal government: Agencies like the National Park Service, military bases, and federal properties responsible for flag display.
- State and local governments: May adopt similar practices for consistency.
- Religious communities: Primarily Christians observing Easter season, as the dates correspond to Good Friday (day of Jesus' crucifixion) and Holy Saturday.
- General public: Affected indirectly through cultural flag etiquette.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Codifies a recurring flag protocol, enforceable via existing flag code authority; the astronomical definition ensures calculable dates annually.
- Constitutional: Could raise questions under the Establishment Clause (First Amendment prohibition on government favoring religion), as the short title references "Good Friday" despite neutral wording—though precedents allow holiday recognitions if not coercive.
- Political: Reflects cultural or religious priorities; introduced by Rep. Ogles and referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Good Friday Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-27 — PDF (2 pages)