TagRegulations

OIRA reviewed 37 significant rules in April

By Molly Byrne
In Federal
May 2, 2023 at 9:57 AM

In April 2023, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed 37 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies. OIRA approved three of these rules with no changes and approved the intent of 32 rules while recommending changes to their content. Two rules were withdrawn from the review process by the issuing agency.

OIRA reviewed 39 significant regulatory actions in April 2022, 22 significant regulatory actions in April 2021, 45 significant regulatory actions in April 2020, 44 significant regulatory actions in April 2019, 32 significant regulatory actions in April 2018, and seven significant regulatory actions in April 2017.

OIRA has reviewed a total of 185 significant rules in 2023. The agency reviewed a total of 485 significant rules in 2022, 502 significant rules in 2021, 676 significant rules in 2020, 475 significant rules in 2019, 355 significant rules in 2018, and 237 significant rules in 2017.

As of May 1, 2023, OIRA’s website listed 117 regulatory actions under review.

​​OIRA is responsible for reviewing and coordinating what it deems to be all significant regulatory actions made by federal agencies, with the exception of independent federal agencies. Significant regulatory actions include agency rules that have had or may have a large impact on the economy, environment, public health, or state and local governments and communities. These regulatory actions may also conflict with other regulations or with the priorities of the president.

Every month, Ballotpedia compiles information about regulatory reviews conducted by OIRA. To view this project, visit: Completed OIRA review of federal administrative agency rules



REINS Act included in debt ceiling bill

By Caitlin Styrsky
In Federal
April 28, 2023 at 4:58 PM

The U.S. House of Representatives on April 26, 2023, voted 219-210 to pass H.R. 2811, the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which aims to raise the federal government’s debt ceiling and includes provisions related to congressional review of agency rulemaking known as the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act.

The REINS Act would require congressional approval of certain major agency regulations before the rules could take effect. The REINS Act defines major agency regulations as those that have financial impacts on the U.S. economy of $100 million or more, increase consumer prices, or have significant harmful effects on the economy. A version of the REINS Act was passed in Wisconsin in 2017. A Florida law with similar provisions to the REINS Act was enacted in 2010. Republican lawmakers have introduced the REINS Act during every session of Congress since the 112th Congress (2011-2012).

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) introduced the REINS Act in the 118th Congress with more than 170 Republican cosponsors. Following the vote on the Limit, Save, Grow Act, Cammack released the following statement: “With the passage of the Limit, Save, Grow Act, the most historic regulatory reform in history—the REINS Act—is one step closer to law. The regulatory regime has gone unchecked for decades and it’s time we return power to the American people, not the nameless, faceless bureaucrats in Washington.”

President Biden has stated that he will veto the Limit, Save, Grow Act if it reaches his desk. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated in January, “Congress is going to need to raise the debt limit without—without—conditions and it’s just that simple,” according to ABC News.

Additional reading:

Major rule

Regulatory review



OIRA reviewed 70 significant rules in March

By Molly Byrne
In Federal
April 3, 2023 at 4:24 PM

In March 2023, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed 70 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies. OIRA approved 10 of these rules with no changes and approved the intent of 55 rules while recommending changes to their content. Four rules were withdrawn from the review process by the issuing agency. One rule was subject to a statutory or judicial deadline.

OIRA reviewed 46 significant regulatory actions in March 2022, 28 significant regulatory actions in March 2021, 41 significant regulatory actions in March 2020, 27 significant regulatory actions in March 2019, 19 significant regulatory actions in March 2018, and one significant regulatory action in March 2017.

OIRA has reviewed a total of 148 significant rules in 2023. The agency reviewed a total of 485 significant rules in 2022, 502 significant rules in 2021, 676 significant rules in 2020, 475 significant rules in 2019, 355 significant rules in 2018, and 237 significant rules in 2017.

As of April 3, 2023, OIRA’s website listed 107 regulatory actions under review.

​​OIRA is responsible for reviewing and coordinating what it deems to be all significant regulatory actions made by federal agencies, with the exception of independent federal agencies. Significant regulatory actions include agency rules that have had or may have a large impact on the economy, environment, public health, or state and local governments and communities. These regulatory actions may also conflict with other regulations or with the priorities of the president.

Every month, Ballotpedia compiles information about regulatory reviews conducted by OIRA. To view this project, visit: https://ballotpedia.org/Completed_OIRA_review_of_federal_administrative_agency_rules