Sponsors (3)
The bill would centralize building-code standards to potentially improve housing quality and speed construction, benefiting buyers and renters, but risks higher construction costs that could raise housing prices and reduces local control while imposing modest federal study costs.
Homebuyers and renters: a uniform federal building code could raise construction quality, producing safer and better-built housing.
Homebuyers and renters (and prospective buyers): a uniform code could streamline approvals and reduce local review time, potentially speeding new construction and increasing housing supply.
Taxpayers and Congress: a GAO study will provide evidence on costs and benefits to inform better legislative decisions and oversight.
Builders, homebuyers, and renters: stricter or new federal compliance requirements could raise construction costs, which may increase home prices or rents.
Local governments: federal uniform standards could reduce local control to tailor building rules for local climate, seismic conditions, or community preferences.
Federal employees and GAO priorities: preparing and reviewing the mandated GAO study will consume staff time and resources, creating opportunity costs for other work.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the GAO to study and report within one year on the costs and benefits of a Federal uniform residential building code, focusing on approval times, construction costs, and housing quality/affordability.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Sylvia Garcia · Last progress December 17, 2025
Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to study and report to Congress within one year on the costs and benefits of creating a single, federal residential building code. The study must assess whether a federal uniform code could shorten local approval times for new housing, lower residential construction costs, and improve the quantity and quality of affordable housing available in the U.S. The bill itself does not create new regulatory standards, change existing codes, or authorize funding for construction; it only directs a one-year GAO analysis with findings delivered to Congress.