Regulation Decimation Act
The Regulation Decimation Act would require federal agencies to repeal at least ten existing regulations before they may issue a new rule. For so-called major rules, the repeal requirement remains, and a cost test is added: the new major rule’s cost must be less than or equal to the costs of the repealed rules, with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) certifying this cost comparison. Any repealed rules must be published in the Federal Register. The measure applies to rules that impose costs on non-governmental entities or on state/local governments, with certain exemptions for internal agency policies, procurement rules, or revisions that reduce burdens. The act also imposes reporting duties: within 90 days of enactment, agency heads must review their rules for costliness, ineffectiveness, duplication, or outdated restrictions; and within five years, the President must report on the total number of rules in effect and progress in reducing regulations. Definitions tie the bill to standard federal rulemaking terminology.
Key Points
- 1Before issuing a new rule, an agency must repeal at least ten existing rules that are related to the new rule to the extent practicable.
- 2For major rules, the agency must also ensure the new rule’s cost is no higher than the costs of the repealed rules, with OMB certifying the cost comparison.
- 3Repealed rules must be published in the Federal Register.
- 4The bill provides scope and exemptions, excluding internal agency policy/procurement rules and rules revised to be less burdensome; it applies to rules with costs on non-governmental persons or state/local governments.
- 5Agencies must conduct and report rule reviews within 90 days of enactment, and the President must report every five years on the total number of rules and progress in reducing rules.