S 485119th CongressIn Committee

Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2025

Introduced: Feb 6, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2025 (REINS Act) would overhaul how major and nonmajor federal rules are adopted and implemented. It would require Congress to approve major rules through a joint resolution of approval before they can take effect, rather than letting rules automatically become law through executive or agency action. Nonmajor rules could be disapproved through a separate congressional process. The bill also expands reporting requirements, creates a formal regulatory budgeting framework, mandates unprecedented levels of transparency for guidance documents, and introduces new avenues for challenges and enforcement, including a private right of action. In short, the measure aims to give Congress a much stronger say over federal regulations and to curb regulatory action unless explicitly approved. If enacted, the act would likely slow the regulatory process, increase congressional involvement, and shift some decision-making power from agencies to Congress. It also creates incentives for agencies to offset regulatory costs with deregulation measures and establishes recurring review cycles that could sunset or require renewal of major rules after a set period, unless extended by Congress.

Key Points

1Congressional approval required for major rules: Before any major rule can take effect, Congress must pass a joint resolution of approval (no amendments allowed in the Senate or House; specific timing and procedures apply). If Congress does not act within the mandated window, the rule does not take effect. There is also an emergency provision allowing a 90-day limited effect period if the President determines certain emergencies apply, but this does not alter the overall approval process.
2Distinction and procedures for major vs. nonmajor rules: Major rules (as defined by the bill) are subject to approval by joint resolution; nonmajor rules can be disapproved by Congress within a set window. The bill sets detailed committee referral rules, discharge processes, and timeframes for both Houses, plus specific backstop deadlines for final votes.
3Enhanced reporting, cost analysis, and regulatory budgeting: Agencies must publish data in the Federal Register about the rule’s basis, including data, studies, and cost-benefit analyses, and submit detailed materials to Congress and the Comptroller General. The Director of the OMB must publish a unified regulatory agenda twice yearly, establish a Federal Regulatory Budget, and enforce an incremental regulatory cost allowance with mandatory offsetting deregulation where possible.
4Guidance documents transparency: Agencies must publish significant guidance documents online in a designated, searchable location, with categorization and easy access for the public.
5Sunset and renewal of rules; expiration process: Major rules would generally expire 10 years after enactment unless a joint resolution extends them; reissuance or maintenance of substantially similar rules would require new law. There is a limited executive-branch exception allowing one rule per Congress to be extended for up to 30 days by Presidential order in emergencies.
6Review of rules in effect: Starting six months after enactment, agencies must periodically designate at least 10% of “eligible rules” for review, triggering the 801/802 review framework again. If Congress hasn’t approved a rule within a designated window, it may no longer continue in effect after a required period.
7Judicial and private enforcement: The act restricts broad judicial review of determinations, but provides narrowly tailored options for courts to review whether procedural requirements have been met. It also creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by a rule’s noncompliance, with potential injunctive relief before the rule takes effect.
8Exemptions and scope: Monetary policy rules from the Federal Reserve and related actions are exempt; certain deregulatory actions identified in the agency Unified Agenda are exempt from the major-rule procedures. The act also includes a regulatory “good cause” provision allowing certain rules to take effect with accelerated procedures.
9Budgetary and oversight implications: The act would embed a formal budgetary framework for regulatory actions, potentially constraining the number and magnitude of regulations unless Congress approves them. It also tasks GAO with studying the stock of rules in effect and their costs.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Federal agencies and rulemaking bodies: Agencies would face additional procedural hurdles, mandatory reporting, cost budgeting, and sunset/renewal requirements for major rules, plus new transparency obligations for guidance documents.- Congress and legislative processes: A major shift toward required congressional approval for major rules and expanded discharge/fast-track procedures would increase congressional involvement and oversight of the regulatory state.Secondary group/area affected- Regulated entities and the public: Businesses, non-profits, and individuals could experience slower rule adoption, more potential blocking of major regulations, and new avenues for challenge and litigation.- Economies and markets: The regulatory budget and cost-offset requirements could influence which actions are pursued, potentially reducing or delaying costly rules and shifting policy emphasis toward deregulation where offsets are feasible.Additional impacts- Legal and administrative certainty: With both a private right of action and restricted judicial review, there could be increased litigation surrounding compliance and rule effectiveness, along with potential uncertainty about when and how rules take effect.- Policy stability versus agility: The sunset/renewal framework and “extension” provisions create pressure for renewed congressional action, potentially reducing policy stability but increasing accountability and alignment with current priorities.- Transparency and information access: Expanded public access to data, analyses, and guidance documents could enhance accountability but also increase administrative burden on agencies.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 18, 2025