H.R. 10305House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act

Introduced September 8, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 9, 2026 at 3:17 PM UTC

The Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act amends existing water resources and federal‑asset laws to improve transparency and accountability for federal building leasing and disposal. It gives the Comptroller General access to detailed data, requires agencies with independent leasing authority to be identified and overseen, permits temporary use of buildings to aid sales or renovations, extends a key deadline, and mandates data sharing with a new public‑buildings reform board. The changes affect federal agencies that lease space, the General Services Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and congressional oversight committees.

Key Provisions

  • Requires the Director of the General Services Administration and the Administrator to give the Comptroller General all data and reports related to public‑building leasing and use.
  • Adds reporting requirements so the Director must list, within one year, every federal agency that has its own independent leasing authority and must ensure those agencies follow the new oversight rules.
  • Allows the GSA Administrator to keep a federal building as “swing space” to help sell or renovate other federal buildings, as long as the cost does not exceed the savings and annual usage plans are reported to the House and Senate transportation committees.
  • Extends the deadline for actions under the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act from Dec. 31, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2028.
  • Creates a new requirement that the OMB Director and the GSA Administrator provide all utilization data collected under the Carper Water Resources Development Act to the Public Buildings Reform Board.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

September 15, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 8, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

September 8, 2026

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

September 9, 2026

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged

September 15, 2026

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

September 15, 2026

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

September 15, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 8, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10305

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 8, 2026

Mr. Perry introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 to provide the Comptroller General with certain data, to provide for certain swing space, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act.

2.

Strengthening oversight

(a)

Comptroller General of the United States

Section 2302 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(i)

GAO access to data

The Director and Administrator shall provide to the Comptroller General of the United States all data and reports pursuant to this section, including subsections (c), (e), and (f).

.

(b)

Clarification on agencies with independent leasing authority

Subsection (f) of section 2302 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (6);

(2)

by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively;

(3)

in paragraph (5), as so redesignated—

(A)

by striking the paragraph enumerator and all that follows through with independent leasing authorities and inserting the following:

(5)
(A)

Requirements for Federal agencies with independent leasing authorities

The head of any agency, regardless of whether the agency is covered by section 901 of title 31, United States Code, with independent leasing authorities

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)

Oversight and accountability

(i)

Accounting

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Strengthening Oversight in Public Buildings Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Comptroller General of the United States a list of all agencies that have an independent leasing authority to procure office space.

(ii)

Oversight

The Director shall ensure all agencies with independent leasing authorities are notified of and comply with the requirements of this section.

.

3.

Swing space to support building sales

Section 2312 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a) by striking Not later and inserting Except as provided in subsection (d), not later; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Swing space exception

The Administrator of General Services may retain the Federal building described in subsection (a) so long as such building is used as swing space to facilitate the sale or major renovation of other Federal buildings so long as—

(1)

the cost of retaining such building does not exceed any savings realized by the sale or major renovation of any other Federal building; and

(2)

the Administrator submits to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate annual plans for the use of such building.

.

4.

Public Buildings Reform Board

(a)

In general

The Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act (40 U.S.C. 1303 note) is amended—

(1)

in section 10 by striking December 31, 2026 and inserting December 31, 2028; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new section:

27.

Access to utilization data

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Administrator shall provide all data and reports to the Board collected and produced pursuant to section 2302 of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (40 U.S.C. 584 note).

.

(b)

Conforming amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act (40 U.S.C. 1303 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Sec. 27. Access to utilization data.

.