Bill eliminates age exemptions from naturalization English test
H.R. 9742 — English Language Proficiency Act · Filed by Brandon Gill (R-TX) · 7 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 16, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill eliminates two exceptions to the English-language and civics requirement for U.S. naturalization. Currently, immigrants aged 50+ with 20 years of lawful permanent residence, and those aged 55+ with 15 years of residence, are exempt from demonstrating English proficiency and knowledge of U.S. history and government. The bill removes both exemptions, requiring all applicants to pass the English and civics test regardless of age or length of residence.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is the elimination of age- and tenure-based exemptions from English and civics testing for naturalization applicants. It is a straightforward policy change to immigration law, not a tax measure, appropriation, or commemorative act.
What the text implies
- Elderly immigrants (50+) with 20+ years of lawful residence who may have limited English proficiency despite deep community ties will face a new barrier to citizenship, potentially creating a class of permanent residents unable to naturalize.
- The bill does not address whether testing accommodations (e.g., for hearing or cognitive impairment) remain available, or whether the civics test itself is modified — the effect depends on how USCIS administers the unchanged test.
- Naturalization rates among older immigrant cohorts may decline, affecting family reunification timelines and eligibility for certain federal benefits tied to citizenship status.
Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.
Who it affects
The bill raises the bar for naturalization, potentially excluding or delaying citizenship for elderly immigrants and long-term residents who may struggle with English proficiency despite decades of lawful residence and community integration. However, it also enforces a uniform standard and may strengthen civic knowledge across the naturalized population — a genuine trade-off between accessibility and standardization.
Named in the bill
Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 312(b), USCIS, naturalization applicants
Where it stands
7 cosponsors: 7 Republicans.
- Jul 16, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
- Jul 16, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the bill text published by Congress.gov (350 characters) on Oct 31, 2026. Section numbers in the findings refer to that text, linked below; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 16,778 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
As of — page rendered 2026-10-31.
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