Courthouse Affordability and Space Efficiency Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
In Committee
Summary
Courtroom sharing and space-efficiency limits would restrict when and how the federal government can build new courthouses. This bill would bar new courthouse projects unless designs meet specific courtroom-sharing ratios and existing General Services Administration space in the same complex is fully used or removed from inventory.
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- Federal judges and courthouses: Sets courtroom ratios. For district judges it requires 2 courtrooms per 3 active judges with a minimum of 9 courtrooms for active district judges. For bankruptcy, senior district, and magistrate judges it requires 1 courtroom per 2 judges when each group has 3 or more judges.
- GSA and construction: The General Services Administration would not be allowed to start new courthouse construction unless the project began on or before the date of enactment or the design meets the courtroom-sharing rules.
- Design guidance and inventory: The U.S. Courts Design Guide must be updated within 180 days to reflect these sharing rules. Any added courthouse capacity must rely on fully using or relinquishing existing space in the same complex.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Proposed courtroom sharing rules and limits
This bill would set courtroom-sharing rules for new federal courthouses. GSA could not start a new courthouse after enactment unless work had already begun, or the design meets these ratios. For courthouses with 10 or more active district judges, there would be 2 courtrooms for every 3 active district judges, with at least 9 courtrooms for active district judges. For courthouses with 3 or more bankruptcy, senior district, or magistrate judges, there would be 1 courtroom for every 2 judges in that group. If a new courthouse adds capacity, existing space in the same complex would have to be fully used or given up from GSA’s inventory. The United States Courts Design Guide would be updated within 180 days after enactment to include these rules, as practicable.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Cosponsors
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov