Democracy in Design Act

This bill makes sure new federal public buildings follow the “Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture,” a set of design guidelines first published in 1962. It directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to stick to those principles when designing federal buildings across the United States.

It also requires the GSA to write clear rules within 180 days to put this into practice and to set minimum design standards, with a chance for the public to weigh in before the rules are final.

• Who is affected: Federal agencies that design and build public buildings, and the communities that use them.
• What changes: GSA must follow the 1962 design principles and create minimum standards for federal building design, with public input on the rules.
• When: The new rules must be proposed and finalized within 180 days after the law takes effect.