Bill would require judges to share courtrooms in new federal buildings
Passed one chamberH.R. 3426Latest action
Sponsor: Jefferson Shreve · Representative · IN
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Government & democracy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
The CASE Act would require new federal courthouses to use courtroom-sharing formulas instead of one courtroom per judge.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The CASE Act requires GSA to ensure new federal courthouses don't have more courtrooms than necessary, using set ratios based on the number of active, senior, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges. Courthouses that don't meet sharing requirements can't begin construction unless work already started before the law passed. The official courthouse design guide must also be updated within 180 days, and unused existing courthouse space in the same complex must be used or given up when new space is added.
Who does it affect?
This mainly affects GSA and other federal agencies that build and manage courthouses, along with federal judges and court staff. Taxpayers could be indirectly affected through changes in government construction spending.
Why does it matter?
The changes could reduce unnecessary courtroom construction and unused space in federal buildings, affecting how courthouses are designed and used going forward.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Based on the “Referred in Senate” text of Dec 1, 2025.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedMay 15, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Dec 1, 2025
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.