Commercial Building Modernization Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 20, 2012

Commercial Building Modernization Act- Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings, to: (1) extend such deduction through 2016; (2) include within the definition of "property" for purposes of such deduction a commercial building and a multifamily building (a structure of five or more dwelling units used as residential housing); (3) increase the maximum amount of such deduction; and (4) adopt the updated standard of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America applicable to property eligible for such deduction.

Allows through 2016 a new tax deduction for the cost of retrofitting existing commercial and multifamily buildings.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · R–ME

Committees

Finance Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Sep 20, 2012
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sep 20, 2012
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Sep 20, 2012 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.3591 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.3591, 112th Congress: Commercial Building Modernization Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/3591

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2012-09-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s3591/BILLS-112s3591is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:21:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.3591 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.3591 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.3591, 112th Congress: Commercial Building Modernization Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/3591

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2012-09-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s3591/BILLS-112s3591is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:21:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3591 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.3591 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.3591, 112th Congress: Commercial Building Modernization Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/3591

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2012-09-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s3591/BILLS-112s3591is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:21:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3591 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.3591 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3591, 112th Congress: Commercial Building Modernization Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/3591

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2012-09-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s3591/BILLS-112s3591is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:21:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3591 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.