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Congress·Passed House·H.R. 3426

Courthouse Construction: New Space Sharing Rules

Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025

4 months ago·View on Congress.gov
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This policy changes how the government builds new federal courthouses to save taxpayer money. It requires judges to share courtrooms rather than giving every judge their own private room, which helps reduce the size and cost of new buildings.
  • Under these rules, larger courthouses must provide two courtrooms for every three active district judges. Bankruptcy judges, senior judges, and magistrate judges will also be required to share, with one courtroom for every two judges.
  • The policy aims to stop the construction of oversized federal buildings that often sit empty. By requiring judges to share space, the government can build smaller facilities that are cheaper to maintain and operate.
  • Before any new space can be added to a courthouse complex, the government must prove that the existing space is being fully used. If the old space is no longer needed, it must be removed from the government's inventory.
  • The agency in charge of federal buildings, the General Services Administration, has 180 days to update its official design guides to include these new sharing requirements for all future projects.

Milestones

7 milestones21 actions
Dec 1, 2025Senate

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

Nov 20, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Nov 20, 2025House

Senate returned papers to the House.

Nov 19, 2025Senate

Senate returned papers to House by by Unanimous Consent.

Nov 19, 2025Senate

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

Related Bills

1 bill
H.Res. 747Related bill

Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to request the Senate to return to the House the bill (H.R. 3426) entitled "To amend title 40, United States Code, to limit the construction of new courthouses under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.".

Sep 19 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 3426
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.