Jefferson Shreve (R-IN)
Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The CASE Act aims to amend title 40 of the United States Code to limit the construction of new courthouses. It restricts the Administrator of General Services from starting construction on any new courthouse that has not already begun by the date of enactment. Additionally, new construction must comply with specific courtroom sharing requirements for various types of judges. The bill also requires an update to the United States Courts Design Guide to include these sharing requirements. Finally, it mandates that existing space must be fully utilized or relinquished if a new courthouse adds capacity to the General Services Administration's inventory.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
By restricting new construction and requiring the relinquishment of unused space, the bill directly targets a reduction in federal spending on judicial infrastructure.
- Scored +4
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill implements stricter oversight and efficiency mandates for federal building projects to ensure better resource management.
- Scored +3
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill aims to reduce government expenditures by limiting new courthouse construction and promoting space efficiency.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would union members be better off under this?
Construction and supply chain workers in the judicial infrastructure sector may see decreased demand due to new construction limits.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Cost Reductions: The bill seeks to reduce costs related to courthouses by limiting new construction and requiring more efficient space usage (Sec. 2(a)).
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Increased Space Efficiency: By requiring specific courtroom sharing ratios for district, bankruptcy, senior district, and magistrate judges, the bill aims to ensure that new buildings are used more efficiently (Sec. 2(a)(b)).
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Resource Management: The requirement to fully utilize or relinquish existing space ensures that the General Services Administration does not hold onto unused property while adding new capacity (Sec. 2(a)(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Construction Delays or Prevention: The Administrator of General Services is prohibited from commencing construction on any new courthouse that has not already begun by the date of enactment (Sec. 2(a)(b)(1)).
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Strict Space Limitations: New courthouses must adhere to specific courtroom sharing requirements, such as 2 courtrooms per 3 active district judges or 1 courtroom per 2 bankruptcy judges, which may limit how many rooms are available for specific judicial needs (Sec. 2(a)(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — By restricting new construction and requiring the relinquishment of unused space, the bill directly targets a reduction in federal spending on judicial infrastructure. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill implements stricter oversight and efficiency mandates for federal building projects to ensure better resource management. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill aims to reduce government expenditures by limiting new courthouse construction and promoting space efficiency.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — Construction and supply chain workers in the judicial infrastructure sector may see decreased demand due to new construction limits.
Sent back to the chamber it came from
- 12/1/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 11/20/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Senate returned papers to the House.
- 11/19/2025
- Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Senate returned papers to House by by Unanimous Consent.
- 9/19/2025
- House requested return of papers pursuant to H.Res. 747
- 9/16/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 9/15/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 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)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4278)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3426.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4278)
- Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 9/8/2025
- Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-240.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 197.
- 6/11/2025
- Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 5/16/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 5/15/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia