PRIA Logo™
119-s-4341119th CongressWALLET

Faster Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Banks, Jim [R-IN]

Introduced

Summary

Commercial building codes and standards would be allowed for VA construction when they do not conflict with existing law. This bill would let the Department of Veterans Affairs use commercial codes and standards in place of or alongside federal codes for building, altering, or leasing VA facilities so long as there is no conflict with statutory or regulatory requirements.

Show full summary
  • Veterans and facility users: Changes the technical rules that guide VA hospitals, clinics, and leased spaces by permitting commercial codes for design and construction. This affects how VA buildings are planned and built.
  • VA operations and contractors: Requires not fewer than three pilot projects each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 using commercial codes or standards for major construction, minor construction, or major lease projects. The bill names groups like the National Fire Protection Association and the International Code Council as examples of acceptable commercial standards.
  • Congressional oversight: Directs the Secretary to send reports to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year 2027 through 2031 describing use of the authority and the status of each pilot project.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Veterans Affairs would use commercial codes

If enacted, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would be required to use commercial building codes and standards instead of or in addition to Federal codes when those commercial codes do not conflict with laws or VA rules. The bill would define commercial codes to include NFPA, the International Code Council, ASTM, ASCE, and any other non‑Federal code the Secretary adds. It would require at least three pilot projects each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 using commercial codes for major construction, minor construction, or major lease projects. The Secretary would also send a report to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year 2027–2031 describing how the authority was used and each pilot's status.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Banks, Jim [R-IN]

IN • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation