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Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025

#3426 | HR Congress #119

Subjects: Building constructionFederal district courtsGovernment buildings, facilities, and property

Last Action: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (12/1/2025)

Bill Text Source: Congress.gov

Summary and Impacts
Original Text
119 HR 3426 : CASE Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-12-01 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.
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 November 19, 2025 Committee discharged; returned to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent December 1, 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 Act of 2025 or the CASE Act.
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; or (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— (A)1 courtroom per 2 bankruptcy judges; (B)1 courtroom for emergency matters; and (C)if there is an odd number of bankruptcy judges, the number of courtrooms required pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be rounded down; (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— (A)1 courtroom per 2 magistrate judges; (B)1 criminal duty courtroom; and (C)if there is an odd number of magistrate judges, the number of courtrooms required pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be rounded down. (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.