The ALERT Act (All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act) would require federal agencies to dramatically increase transparency around regulatory rules by adding a new chapter to Title 5. Each month, agency heads must submit to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) a detailed forward-looking package about rules they expect to propose or finalize in the next 12 months. That package would include the rule’s nature, regulatory identifiers, legal basis, deadlines, cost-benefit analysis status, exemption claims, and the rule’s current stage. For rules anticipated to be finalized in the next year that have issued a general notice of proposed rulemaking, agencies must also provide an approximate action schedule, cost estimates across defined thresholds, expected economic effects (including jobs and unfunded mandates), and a list of influential scientific information and any peer-review plans. The information would be published publicly on the Internet within 30 days of submission, and annually in the Federal Register and online, detailing the agency’s rulemaking activity from the previous year. Notably, rules could not take effect until their required information has been publicly available for at least six months, with several exceptions (emergency health/safety, enforcement of criminal laws, national security, or statutes implementing international trade agreements). The bill also defines key terms and sets specific effective dates for the monthly submissions and the annual publications.
Key Points
- 1Monthly agency submissions to OIRA: Each agency must provide a structured report for rules anticipated in the next 12 months, including nature, legal basis, deadlines, costs/benefits analysis status, and the rule’s current stage.
- 2Forward-looking cost and impact data: For rules expected to be finalized within 12 months that have issued a general notice, agencies must share an estimated schedule, cost ranges, estimated economic effects (including jobs and unfunded mandates), and a list of influential scientific information and planned peer review.
- 3Public publication and access: OIRA must publish agency-specific information online within 30 days of submission, and annually in the Federal Register and on the Internet, including costs, rule counts, and details about OMB and other oversight reviews.
- 4Rule effectiveness tied to transparency: A rule cannot take effect until its required publication information has been available online for at least six months, with specified exceptions for emergencies or national security-related needs and certain statutory mandates.
- 5Defined scope and timing: The bill creates a new Chapter 6A in Title 5 and sets initial implementation timelines, including a first monthly submission deadline and the first public publications.