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H.R. 3426

U.S. House•In Senate Committee

Summary

H.R. 3426, the Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025, was introduced in the House on May 15, 2025 by Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R) with 1 co-sponsor. It was referred to Environment And Public Works, and last saw action on Dec 1, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Record

Text

H.R. 3426 has 1 co-sponsor.

hb3426/introduced-in-house.txt
119 HR 3426 IH: Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-05-15
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 3426  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   May 15, 2025   Mr. Shreve  (for himself and  Ms. Norton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure    A BILL
To amend title 40, United States Code, to limit the construction of new courthouses under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025  .
2.
Reducing costs related to courthouses
(a)
In general
 Chapter 33  of title 40, United States Code, as amended by this act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
3320.
Reducing costs related to courthouses
(a)
Limitation on new courthouses
The Administrator of General Services may not commence construction of any new courthouse if—
(1)
construction has not begun on or before the date of enactment of this section; and
(2)
the design and construction of the new courthouse fails to comply, at a minimum, with the courtroom sharing requirements described in subsection (b).
(b)
Courtroom sharing requirements defined
The term  courtroom sharing requirements  means—
(1)
in courthouses with 10 or more active district judges, 2 courtrooms per 3 active district judges, except such courthouses may contain not less than 9 courtrooms for active district judges;
(2)
in courthouses with 3 or more bankruptcy judges, 1 courtroom per 2 bankruptcy judges;
(3)
in courthouses with 3 or more senior district judges, 1 courtroom per 2 senior district judges; and
(4)
in courthouses with 3 or more magistrate judges, 1 courtroom per 2 magistrate judges.
(c)
United States Courts Design Guide
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Design Guide for courthouses shall be updated to incorporate courtroom sharing requirements to the maximum extent practicable.
(d)
Utilization
If a new courthouse will add capacity in the inventory of the General Services Administration, existing space in the same courthouse complex must be fully utilized or relinquished from the inventory of the General Services Administration.
 .
(b)
Clerical amendment
The analysis for  chapter 33  of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
3320. Reducing costs related to courthouses.
  .

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-05-15
  2. Passed House2025-09-15
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House May 15, 2025

hb3426/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (05/15/2025)

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.)

Sponsors

Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R) sponsors H.R. 3426, and 1 member has co-sponsored it from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 3426 went before 3 committees: Environment and Public Works, Transportation and Infrastructure and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee.

Environment and Public Works
Environment and Public Works
Referred To · Dec 1, 2025 · 257 Bills
Transportation and Infrastructure
Transportation and Infrastructure
Reported By · Sep 8, 2025 · 156 Bills
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee
Referred to · May 16, 2025 · 127 Bills

Reports

1 committee report has been filed on H.R. 3426, the latest H. Rept. 119-240.

  • H. Rept. 119-240 — COURTHOUSE AFFORDABILITY AND SPACE EFFICIENCY (CASE) ACT OF 2025

Actions

H.R. 3426 has taken 21 actions since May 15, 2025, the latest on Dec 1, 2025.

ChamberAction
Dec 1, 2025
Senate
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.Environment and Public Works Committee
Nov 20, 202513:04
House
Senate returned papers to the House.
Nov 20, 2025
Senate
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Nov 19, 2025
House
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.Environment and Public Works Committee
Nov 19, 2025
Senate
Senate returned papers to House by by Unanimous Consent.

Votes

H.R. 3426 has not gone to a roll call.

1 bill is related to H.R. 3426.

Titles

H.R. 3426 goes by 8 titles, 5 of them short titles.

  • Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Reported to House
  • Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025 — Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
  • To amend title 40, United States Code, to limit the construction of new courthouses under certain circumstances, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced
  • Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025 — Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
  • Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Passed House
  • To amend title 40, United States Code, to limit the construction of new courthouses under certain circumstances, and for other purposes. — Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
  • Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025 — Display Title

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 3426 under Government Operations and Politics, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 3 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 3426’s is Government Operations and Politics.

hr3426/policy-areas.txt
Government Operations and PoliticsAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 3426 carries 3 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Building construction to Government buildings, facilities, and property.

hr3426/subjects.txt
Building constructionFederal district courtsGovernment buildings, facilities, and property

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 3426, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 82 (Thursday, May 15, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. SHREVE:H.R. 3426.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:clause 3 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution[Page H2104]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com