Author: Mina Vogel
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South Dakota enacts REINS law, first new REINS state in 2026
On March 12, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden (R) signed Senate Bill 133 into law. SB 133 is a REINS-style law, requiring legislative committee review and potential legislative approval for new executive agency rules expected to cost $3 million or more over a two-year period. South Dakota is the 10th state to enact a law…
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EPA revokes Obama-era ‘endangerment finding’ on greenhouse gas emissions
On Feb. 18, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule which revokes the agency’s 2009 ‘endangerment finding’ on greenhouse gas emissions. The endangerment finding was an interpretation of the Clean Air Act that found that greenhouse gases could be regulated as pollutants under the Act. President Donald Trump (R) announced the decision…
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Trump signs more Congressional Review Act resolutions in 2025 than in every previous year combined
On Dec. 11, President Donald Trump (R) signed five resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), bringing the total number of enacted CRA resolutions this year to 22. Trump has now signed more CRA resolutions in 2025 than all presidents in every other combined. Between his two administrations, Trump has signed 95% of…
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Trump signs resolution disapproving of Bureau of Land Management plan for the National Petroleum Reserve
On Dec. 5, President Trump (R) signed a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) into law, disapproving of a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resource management plan for land administered by the BLM in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. This resolution is the first time the CRA has been used to disapprove of…
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Trump executive order creates new federal employee classification for political appointees
On July 17, President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order to expand the number of politically appointed federal employees. The “Creating Schedule G in the Excepted Service” executive order created a new job classification for federal workers, called Schedule G. Employees hired under Schedule G would be considered political appointees, serving without the legal…
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North Carolina Legislature overrides veto to pass REINS-style legislative oversight of rules bill
On July 29, both houses of the North Carolina legislature voted to override a gubernatorial veto, passing House Bill 402 into law. HB 402 shares features with the proposed federal-level REINS Act, by requiring legislative approval of agency rules that exceed a cost threshold. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) vetoed HB 402 on June…
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Missouri Gov. signs bill limiting state judicial deference, becoming fourth state to do so in 2025
On July 11, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed Senate Bill 221 into law. The bill limits judicial deference by state courts to state agencies. Judicial deference is the practice of courts adopting or yielding to an agency’s interpretation of an ambiguous law or regulation. SB 221 was designed to prohibit state courts from deferring…
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Louisiana passes REINS Act-inspired legislative oversight
What's the story The Louisiana Senate passed SB 59, a bill that increases legislative oversight on rules through requirements similar to a REINS-style law, on June 3 by a vote of 37-0. The bill was sent to Gov. Jeff Landry (R) for signature on June 8. Gov. Jeff Landry (R) expressed support for SB 59.…
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Proposed OPM rule would change procedures to terminate career federal employees
What's the story On May 23, 2025, the public commentary window ended for a proposed Office of Personnel Management (OPM) rule that would modify the procedures for terminating career federal employees, also known as civil servants. The OPM proposed the rule on April 23. The proposed “Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service”…
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Texas Legislature passes state DOGE and judicial nondeference bill
On April 14, 2025, the Texas Legislature approved Senate Bill 14 and sent it to the governor's office. SB 14 was designed to create a new department tasked with promoting efficiency in the Texas state government and prohibit judicial deference to state agencies. If signed into law, the bill would establish a Texas Regulatory Efficiency…