LEGISLATION/H.R. 3426

Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025

119-HR-3426119th CongressIntroduced May 15, 2025Government Operations and Politics

Market Probability

No market

Status

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Other Chamber

Signed

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Sponsor

Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6](R-IN-6)

1 cosponsor

Summary

Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025

This bill provides statutory authority for the General Services Administration (GSA) courtroom sharing policy and limits construction of new courthouses.

Under the bill, GSA must ensure courtroom sharing by magistrate, bankruptcy, and senior district judges. Specifically

in courthouses with 10 or more active district judges, GSA must provide two courtrooms per 3 active district judges (except such courthouses may contain not less than 9 courtrooms for active district judges);
in courthouses with 3 or more bankruptcy judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 bankruptcy judges;
in courthouses with 3 or more senior district judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 senior district judges; and
in courthouses with 3 or more magistrate judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 magistrate judges.

GSA is prohibited from constructing a new courthouse that does not comply with the courtroom sharing requirements. Additionally, if a new courthouse will add capacity in the GSA inventory, existing space in the same courthouse complex must be fully utilized or relinquished from such inventory.

GSA must update the U.S. Courts Design Guide to reflect these requirements within 180 days after the bill's enactment. (The Design Guide sets forth the federal judiciary’s requirements for the design, construction, and renovation of court facilities and is intended for use by individuals involved in federal court construction projects.)

Subjects

Building constructionFederal district courtsGovernment buildings, facilities, and property

Actions (24)

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Dec 1, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Nov 20, 2025Senate

Senate returned papers to the House.

Nov 20, 2025House floor actions

Senate returned papers to House by by Unanimous Consent.

Nov 19, 2025Senate

Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Nov 19, 2025Senate

Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Nov 19, 2025Library of Congress

House requested return of papers pursuant to H.Res. 747

Sep 19, 2025House floor actions

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Sep 16, 2025Senate

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.