Taxpayer Advocate Participation Act
The Taxpayer Advocate Participation Act allows the National Taxpayer Advocate to formally participate in federal court cases involving tax law by submitting friend-of-the-court briefs. This provision specifically authorizes the advocate to present views on issues that broadly impact taxpayer rights, particularly those outlined in the Internal Revenue Code. Federal courts are required to grant the advocate's request to appear in these cases, ensuring their perspective is heard without changing the underlying tax laws. The change takes effect immediately upon the bill's enactment, expanding the role of the Taxpayer Advocate in the judicial process.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2026
Committee Review
Sep 2026
House Passage
Sep 2026
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Jun 29, 2026
Last action Sep 16, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced in House
→
Engrossed in House
·
2 edits
·
Sep 15, 2026
MINOR
The engrossed version makes one significant policy change: it converts the mandatory requirement that federal courts must grant the National Taxpayer Advocate's request to appear as amicus curiae into a discretionary standard, allowing courts to deny such requests. A minor technical correction also changes 'subsection' to 'section' in the effective date provision.
REQUIREMENT
Changed 'shall grant' to 'may grant' in the provision requiring federal courts to approve the National Taxpayer Advocate's amicus curiae appearances. This gives courts discretion to deny the request rather than being obligated to allow it.
TECHNICAL
Changed 'subsection' to 'section' in the effective date provision (2(b)), correcting a cross-reference error since the effective date applies to the entire section, not a subsection.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Sep 16, 2026
Committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
upper
Sep 15, 2026
Introduced
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5685)
lower
Sep 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
lower
Sep 15, 2026
Introduced
Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
lower
Sep 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-799.
lower
Jul 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Jun 29, 2026
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
lower
Jun 29, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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