Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-3426
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
Introduced: 2025-05-15
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Building construction

Federal district courts

Government buildings, facilities, and property
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-19
text: House requested return of papers pursuant to H.Res. 747.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-05-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency (CASE) Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill provides statutory authority for the General Services Administration (GSA) courtroom sharing policy and limits construction of new courthouses.&nbsp;</p><p>Under the bill, GSA must ensure courtroom sharing by magistrate, bankruptcy, and senior district judges. Specifically</p><ul><li>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);</li><li>in courthouses with 3 or more bankruptcy judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 bankruptcy judges;</li><li>in courthouses with 3 or more senior district judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 senior district judges; and</li><li>in courthouses with 3 or more magistrate judges, GSA must provide one courtroom per 2 magistrate judges.</li></ul><p>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.</p><p>GSA must update the U.S. Courts Design Guide to reflect these requirements within 180 days after the bill's enactment.&nbsp;(The Design Guide&nbsp;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.)</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3426 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 16, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works AN ACT 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. .

Passed the House of Representatives September 15, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3426 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT 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. .

Passed the House of Representatives September 15, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 197 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3426 [Report No. 119–240] 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 September 8, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 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. .

September 8, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: 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. .