H.R. 7157

119 HR 7157 IH: Supporting Teachers Through Tax Fairness Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-01-20
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7157  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   January 20, 2026   Mr. Fields  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Ways and Means    A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income up to the first $50,000 wages from employment as a K–12 public school teacher.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Supporting Teachers Through Tax Fairness Act  .
2.
K–12 public school teacher exclusion
(a)
In general
Part III of subchapter B of  chapter 1  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting before section 140 the following new section:
139M.
K–12 public school teacher wages
(a)
In general
In the case of an individual, gross income shall not include so much of the wages received by such individual with respect to employment as an eligible educator as does not exceed $50,000.
(b)
Definitions and special rules
For purposes of this section—
(1)
Eligible educator
(A)
In general
The term  eligible educator  means, with respect to any taxable year, an individual who for at least 900 hours during a school year ending during the taxable year is a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, or aide in a public elementary or secondary school.
(B)
Public school
(i)
In general
The term  elementary or secondary school  means any school which provides elementary education or secondary education (including a charter school), as determined under State law.
(ii)
Public school
The term  public elementary or secondary school  means any school which provides such education at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without tuition charge.
(2)
Increased limit for certain schools
(A)
In general
Subsection (a) shall be applied by substituting  $65,000  for  $50,000  with respect to an individual in the case of each of the following:
(i)
An eligible educator who meets the 900 hour requirement under paragraph (1)(A) for the taxable year with respect to a school not less than 75 percent of the students of which are eligible for free or reduced-cost lunches under the school lunch program established under the National School Lunch Act.
(ii)
An eligible educator who meets the 900 hour requirement under paragraph (1)(A) for the taxable year with respect to a school located in a rural area.
(iii)
An eligible educator who meets the 900 hour requirement under paragraph (1)(A) for the taxable year as a teacher, instructor, or aid in special education or science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(B)
Rural area
For purposes of this paragraph, the term  rural area  any area other than—
(i)
city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants, and
(ii)
any urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town described in clause (i).
(3)
Wages
The term  wages  means all remuneration for services performed by an employee for the employee’s employer, but only to the extent includible in gross income of the individual.
(c)
Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe such rules as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including a process through which elementary and secondary schools can provide to eligible educators and the Secretary statements demonstrating an individual as having met for any period the requirements of subsection (b)(1)(A) and any of the requirements of clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subsection (b)(2)(A).
 .
(b)
Conforming amendment
The table of sections for part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting before the item relating to section 140 the following new item:
Sec. 139M. K–12 public school teacher wages.
  .
(c)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.