HR8096-119

What This Bill Does

The Duplication Scoring Act of 2026 adds a new subsection to 31 U.S.C. 719 requiring the Comptroller General to assess reported public bills and joint resolutions for duplication and overlap risk. For each covered bill or joint resolution reported by any congressional committee, including appropriations and budget committees, GAO must determine to the extent practicable whether the measure creates a new federal program, office, or initiative that duplicates or overlaps with an existing duplicative or overlapping feature previously identified in a GAO duplication and overlap report. When the risk warrants, GAO must identify the new program, office, or initiative, the bill section where it is established, and the GAO report identifying the existing duplicative feature. GAO must submit the information to the Congressional Budget Office Director and the reporting committee and publish it on GAO's website. CBO may include the information as a supplement to the bill's cost estimate if GAO submits it in time. If GAO has not submitted information before CBO issues the estimate, CBO has no further obligation. The Act takes effect on the earlier of 60 days after OMB next updates the federal program inventory website under 31 U.S.C. 1122(a) or the start of a new Congress after one year from enactment.

Who Benefits and How

Members of Congress benefit from early warning when a reported bill may duplicate an existing federal program, office, or initiative. Congressional Budget Office analysts benefit from GAO duplication information they may attach to cost estimates. GAO analysts benefit from a statutory role linking annual duplication reports to bill review. Taxpayer watchdog organizations benefit from public GAO website postings on duplication risk. Reporting committees benefit from specific section-level information before floor action. Federal budget reform advocates benefit from a process that makes overlap and fragmentation more visible.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Comptroller General and GAO program analysts must review reported bills, match new programs to prior duplication and overlap reports, publish findings, and transmit them to CBO and committees. CBO estimate teams must consider whether timely GAO information should supplement cost estimates. Congressional committees may face scrutiny when reported bills create duplicative programs. Sponsors of new federal offices or initiatives may have to defend overlap risk. OMB program-inventory staff indirectly affect the effective date through the next inventory update. Federal agencies connected to duplicated programs may face more oversight pressure.

Key Provisions

• Requires GAO duplication assessments for reported public bills and joint resolutions.
• Defines new duplicative or overlapping features as new programs, offices, or initiatives that duplicate prior GAO-identified overlap areas.
• Requires GAO to identify the affected program, bill section, and prior GAO duplication report when risk warrants.
• Requires submission to CBO and the reporting committee and publication on GAO's website.
• Allows CBO to attach timely GAO duplication information to cost estimates.
• Sets an effective date tied to OMB's federal program inventory update or the next qualifying Congress.