Smart Space Act of 2026
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The bill would require the General Services Administration to convene public consultation meetings with real estate experts to find alternative, private-financing ways to build, renovate, or dispose of federal buildings, and to publish a recommended list of projects for such partnerships.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Administrator of General Services to hold public consultation meetings within 90 days of enactment to identify alternative financing methods, such as public-private partnerships, that could reduce federal costs for constructing, renovating, or preparing public buildings for disposal. The meetings would have to include experts in private and federal commercial real estate, and state real estate experts where available. Within 120 days, the Administrator would have to submit to the President and Congress recommendations on financing methods and a list of recommended projects meeting specified criteria, such as consolidating agencies out of underutilized space GSA intends to sell. GSA would have to publish the report and ongoing timeline information on its website and report any delays to Congress and the President.
Key provisions
- 1Would require GSA to convene consultation meetings within 90 days of enactment to identify alternative financing solutions for public buildings
- 2Would require meetings to include private commercial, federal, and (if available) state real estate experts
- 3Would require GSA to submit financing recommendations and a recommended project list to the President within 120 days
- 4Would set criteria for recommended projects, including consolidating agencies out of underutilized space and meeting a 60% building utilization threshold
- 5Would require GSA to publish the report and process timelines on its website and report delays to Congress and the President
Who would be affected
The General Services Administration, federal agencies occupying underutilized or costly office space, private commercial real estate firms, state and District of Columbia real estate experts, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Environment and Public Works Committees.
Why it matters
Agencies could see their office space consolidated or relocated into more efficient facilities financed through private partnerships rather than direct federal appropriations, potentially lowering long-term costs. Private real estate firms and state governments could gain new opportunities to participate in financing federal building projects.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note) (Sec. 2(d)(3))
References the Act's building utilization definition to set the 60% minimum utilization criterion for recommended office space projects
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for GSA to convene consultation meetings on alternative financing
- Deadline for GSA to submit financing recommendations and project list
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 7388, the Smart Space Act of 2026, would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026–2031 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
CBO estimates the bill would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the deficit over the 2026–2036 scoring window. The only projected cost — less than $500,000 over 2026–2031 — stems from a requirement that the General Services Administration consult real estate experts, produce a report on alternative financing options and federal property consolidation, and publish findings on its website within 120 days; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated (discretionary) funds. CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
GSA would convene open, publicly noticed meetings with private, federal, and (where available) state real estate experts within 90 days of enactment, exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act's chapter 10 rules. Within 120 days, GSA must send the President and relevant congressional committees a report with financing recommendations and a project list meeting specified criteria, including an 60%-or-greater utilization threshold for standard office space. GSA must post the report and ongoing timeline/milestone information online and flag delays to Congress and the President.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to publish a recommended list of public building projects for which public-private partnerships and alternative financing methods should be used.
Under the bill, GSA must hold consultation meetings to identify alternative financing solutions for the construction, renovation, or preparation for disposal of public buildings that will reduce costs to the federal government. Such meetings must include experts in private commercial real estate and federal real estate. If available, state real estate experts with experience leveraging private financing for public buildings and facilities must also be included.
GSA must submit to the President and Congress, and publish on its website (1) recommendations on types of public-private partnerships and alternative financing methods best suited for meeting the federal government's public building needs, and (2) a list of recommended projects for which such methods should be used.
Projects included on the recommended projects list must meet certain criteria, including consolidating or relocating federal agencies out of costly, inefficient, and underutilized spaces that GSA intends to sell or dispose of once vacated.
Legislative subjects
Congressional oversight; General Services Administration; Government Operations and Politics; Government buildings, facilities, and property; Government information and archives; Internet, web applications, social media; Public-private cooperation
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-562