AI-assisted analysis based on the official CRS summary. Source version: Sep 9, 2025. Analysis updated: Sep 15, 2026.
01 — The Text
What.
- The General Services Administration (GSA) must implement courtroom sharing requirements for magistrate, bankruptcy, and senior district judges in federal courthouses.
- Specific courtroom ratios are mandated: 2 courtrooms per 3 active district judges in large courthouses (minimum 9 courtrooms), 1 per 2 bankruptcy judges, 1 per 2 senior district judges, and 1 per 2 magistrate judges.
- GSA is prohibited from constructing new courthouses that do not comply with these courtroom sharing requirements.
- When a new courthouse adds capacity, existing space in the same courthouse complex must be fully utilized or removed from inventory.
- GSA must update the U.S. Courts Design Guide within 180 days of enactment to reflect these requirements.
02 — The Stakes
So what?
- The bill establishes statutory authority for GSA's courtroom sharing policy, converting existing administrative practice into law.
- The courtroom ratio requirements constrain the number of courtrooms that can be built relative to the number of judges, potentially reducing new construction scope and associated costs.
- The prohibition on new courthouses that fail to meet sharing standards prevents construction that violates the policy.
- The requirement to fully utilize or relinquish existing space when adding capacity prevents simultaneous expansion and underutilization.
03 — The Path
Now what?
- The House passed the bill on September 15, 2025 by voice vote under suspension of rules.
- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee was discharged by unanimous consent on November 19, 2025.
- The Senate returned papers to the House on November 19-20, 2025.
- The bill was re-referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on December 1, 2025.
Legislative History
Actions.
- Dec 1, 2025 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Nov 20, 2025 — Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Nov 20, 2025 — Senate returned papers to the House.
- Nov 19, 2025 — Senate returned papers to House by by Unanimous Consent.
- Nov 19, 2025 — Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Nov 19, 2025 — Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 19, 2025 — House requested return of papers pursuant to H.Res. 747
- Sep 16, 2025 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.