Restoring Checks and Balances Act
The bill is poised to have a far-reaching impact on state laws by potentially reducing the number of regulations that state governments rely on to implement federal guidelines. By enforcing a strict timeline on regulations, the bill could lead to a reduction in regulatory burden, particularly for businesses, which might benefit from fewer oversight requirements. However, this effect is countered by concerns about maintaining necessary protections that regulations provide in areas such as environmental safety, public health, and worker rights.
House Bill 1226, titled the 'Restoring Checks and Balances Act', proposes a significant change to the oversight of federal regulations by instituting a sunset provision on new federal rules. Under this bill, any regulatory rule issued by a federal agency would automatically expire five years after its enactment unless reauthorized by Congress. This creates a framework where rules that remain unexamined could lapse, theoretically prompting agencies to justify their regulations periodically.
Critics of HB 1226 have raised concerns that while the intent is to restore accountability in federal governance, the execution might undermine essential regulations that protect public interest. Opponents argue that the automatic expiration of rules could lead to gaps in law enforcement, leaving oversight bodies unable to act promptly on significant issues, such as health crises or safety hazards. Moreover, there is apprehension that the bill could be exploited for political maneuvering wherein critical regulations could lapse due to strategic Congressional inaction.
Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for agencies to submit their requests for reauthorization of rules set to sunset. These requests must be made 12 months prior to the expiration and include justifications for why a rule should remain in effect. This process further delineates the responsibilities of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and heads of agencies, establishing a system of checks over regulatory continuity.