Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 3268

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-05-08: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Last Updated

2026-06-03T08:08:34Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act of 2025 aims to protect birds by requiring federal public buildings to incorporate designs and practices that minimize bird deaths from collisions with glass windows, facades, and lighting. It directs the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to implement these measures in new or significantly altered buildings to promote wildlife conservation.

Key Provisions

• Bird-Safe Requirements for Buildings: The GSA Administrator must include bird-safe features, practices, and strategies in public buildings that are newly constructed, acquired, or substantially altered (defined as more than 50% of the facade changed, as determined by the Commissioner of Public Buildings). This must be done "to the extent practicable," meaning as feasible without undue burden.
• Design Guide Development: The GSA must create a comprehensive design guide covering:
• Features to reduce bird collisions during all construction phases, based on risks at different building types.
• Operational and maintenance strategies, such as managing interior, exterior, and site lighting to avoid attracting birds at night.
• Best practices for bird safety, including reasons for their adoption and explanations for any omissions.
• Sourcing Best Practices: The GSA can consult federal agencies with bird conservation expertise, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) focused on birds, and representatives from green building certification systems (e.g., LEED) to identify effective methods.
• Dissemination and Updates: The design guide must be shared with all federal agencies, subagencies, and departments that have independent authority to lease buildings. The guide must be updated regularly to reflect evolving priorities for bird protection.
• Exemptions: The requirements do not apply to:
• Buildings or sites listed (or eligible for listing) on the National Register of Historic Places (a federal list of culturally significant properties).
• The White House and its grounds.
• The Supreme Court building and its grounds.
• The U.S. Capitol and buildings on its grounds.
• Compliance and Reporting:
• By October 1 each fiscal year, the GSA must collect compliance information and certify to Congress that the design guide is used for applicable buildings.
• An annual report to Congress must include compliance details, an assessment of bird fatalities at federal buildings (where data is available), and recommendations to further reduce risks.

The bill also makes a clerical update to the table of contents in title 40 of the U.S. Code (which governs public buildings and works) by adding the new section.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This legislation adds a new section (3319) to chapter 33 of title 40, U.S. Code, introducing the first federal mandate for bird-safe designs in public buildings. Previously, there were no specific requirements under this title for addressing bird collisions, though general environmental and building standards exist. It builds on voluntary green building practices but makes bird protection a directed priority for GSA-managed projects.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Federal agencies with building or leasing authority will need to integrate the design guide into projects, potentially increasing upfront planning and costs for construction or alterations. Annual reporting adds administrative workload but promotes accountability. The GSA will bear primary responsibility for guide development and updates.
• Citizens: Indirect benefits include enhanced bird conservation, which supports biodiversity and ecosystems that people enjoy (e.g., through reduced loss of migratory birds). No direct costs or burdens on individuals.
• International Relations: Minimal impact, as the bill focuses on domestic federal buildings and U.S. bird populations, though it aligns with global wildlife conservation efforts.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary: The GSA Administrator and Commissioner of Public Buildings, who lead implementation.
• Federal Agencies: All departments occupying or leasing public buildings must comply and provide fatality data where possible.
• Conservation Groups: NGOs and federal experts (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) contribute to best practices and benefit from reduced bird deaths.
• Building Industry: Architects, contractors, and green certification bodies (e.g., U.S. Green Building Council) will adapt to new standards in federal projects.
• Congress: Receives annual certifications and reports, enabling oversight.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The "to the extent practicable" language provides flexibility to avoid conflicts with budgets or feasibility, reducing litigation risks. Exemptions protect historic and symbolic sites without undermining core goals. Compliance reporting ensures transparency but does not impose penalties for non-compliance.
• Constitutional: No significant issues; it falls under Congress's authority to regulate federal property and promote public welfare (e.g., environmental protection under the Property Clause). It does not infringe on states' rights or individual liberties.
• Political: The bipartisan sponsorship (by Reps. Griffith and Quigley) signals broad support for low-cost environmental measures. It could set a precedent for integrating wildlife protections into federal infrastructure, potentially influencing future green building laws, but may face debate over added costs to taxpayers during budget constraints.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

Recent Actions

• 2025-05-08: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
• 2025-05-08: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2025-05-08: Introduced in House
• 2025-05-08: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Federal Bird Safe Buildings Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-08 — PDF (5 pages)