Contact: Senator Devin LeMahieu, 608-266-2056
Madison – Today, the “REINS Act” (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) passed the State Senate. The Bill, Senate Bill 15, was authored by Senator LeMahieu and Representative Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee). In response, Senator Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) issued the following statement:
“State agencies currently have the power to pass harmful regulations with little oversight from the legislature that can cost Wisconsin businesses and citizens tens of millions of dollars in compliance and lost revenue. The REINS Act improves transparency in the rule making process and gives the legislature more power to hold unelected bureaucrats accountable.”
“Right now, regular citizens and businesses don’t have a proper voice in the rule-making process. This bill adds additional oversight by allowing the legislature to require a preliminary public hearing earlier in the rule-making process and request independent Economic Impact Analyses on agency cost estimates.”
“The REINS Act also places added scrutiny on the most expensive rules and prevents them from going into effect right away. Under the bill, any rule that costs over $10 million over two years would need approval by the full Legislature before it is enacted.”
“It’s time for us as elected officials to quit abdicating our responsibilities to unelected bureaucrats.”
Senator Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) serves the 9th Senate District, which includes portions of Calumet, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties.
