Duplication Scoring Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8096
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 1.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T08:07:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Duplication Scoring Act of 2026 (H.R. 8096) aims to prevent the creation of new federal programs, offices, or initiatives that duplicate or overlap with existing ones. It requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO, led by the Comptroller General) to analyze certain congressional bills and share findings to inform lawmakers and budget estimates.
Key Provisions
- Scope of Analysis:
- Applies to "covered bills or joint resolutions," which are public bills reported by any congressional committee, including Appropriations and Budget committees.
- GAO Responsibilities (to the extent practicable):
- Assess if the bill risks creating a "new duplicative or overlapping feature" (a new program, office, or initiative that duplicates something flagged in prior GAO reports on government duplication).
- If a risk exists, identify:
- The name of the new feature.
- The bill section creating it.
- The specific GAO report listing the existing duplicate.
- Submit findings to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director, the reporting committee, and publish on the GAO website.
- CBO Role:
- May include GAO findings as a supplement to its standard cost estimate for the bill (under the Congressional Budget Act).
- If GAO info arrives late, CBO can issue it as a supplemental estimate later.
- Definitions:
- Relies on annual "GAO duplication and overlap reports" (required by law since 2010) that highlight federal government waste from duplication, overlap, or fragmentation.
- Effective Date:
- Starts on the earlier of: 60 days after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) updates its public website on federal programs, or the start of a new Congress at least 1 year after enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 719 of title 31, U.S. Code (GAO duties) by adding a new subsection (i).
- Introduces mandatory duplication checks for reported bills, linking them to existing GAO annual reports—previously, such analyses were not systematically required before bills advance.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Could reduce new redundant programs, promoting efficiency and potential cost savings across federal operations.
- Congress: Adds transparency and data to the legislative process, influencing bill debates and budget scoring without blocking passage.
- Citizens/Taxpayers: May limit government waste by curbing overlap in programs, indirectly benefiting through more efficient use of public funds.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congressional Committees: Receive GAO analyses; must consider duplication risks.
- GAO (Comptroller General): Gains new analytical workload.
- CBO (Director): Incorporates findings into budget estimates.
- OMB: Triggers effective date via website updates.
- Federal Agencies: Potentially spared from creating or competing with overlapping programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enhances existing GAO reporting mandates without mandating vetoes or changes to bills—findings are informational only, preserving congressional authority.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power of the purse (Article I) by improving oversight of spending; no separation-of-powers issues.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsors (e.g., Reps. Burchett, Stansbury); promotes fiscal responsibility but adds procedural steps that could slow some legislation if analyses reveal issues. Referred to Oversight, Budget, and Rules Committees for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 1.
- 2026-05-20: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-03-26: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-26: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-26: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Duplication Scoring Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (5 pages)