Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-3426
Sponsor: Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
Introduced: 2025-05-15 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Building construction
Federal district courts
Government buildings, facilities, and property

Summary:
action_date: 2025-05-15
text: 

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.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-09-19
text: House requested return of papers pursuant to H.Res. 747.
action_date: 2025-09-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2025-09-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2025-09-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4278)
action_date: 2025-09-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4278: 1)
action_date: 2025-09-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3426.
action_date: 2025-09-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4278)
action_date: 2025-09-15
text: Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2025-09-08
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 197.
action_date: 2025-09-08
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-240.
action_date: 2025-09-08
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-240.
action_date: 2025-06-11
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2025-06-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2025-06-11
text: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged
action_date: 2025-05-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2025-05-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2025-05-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2025-05-15
text: Introduced in House