House takes up REINS Act to require legislative sign-off on costly administrative rules

Representative (S20) presented House Bill 2559, described as a REINS Act to strengthen legislative oversight of administrative rulemaking. The measure would require concurrent legislative approval by both chambers for rules with estimated fiscal impacts above a threshold discussed on the floor (speaker discussion referenced $250,000). Proponents said major regulatory costs should be debated publicly by elected legislators rather than implemented solely by agencies.

Opponents raised concerns that making the legislature the approving body for significant rules could slow implementation, create bottlenecks and politicize technical rulemaking. Members questioned whether the threshold applies to single businesses or industries collectively and whether such a requirement would interfere with agencies’ statutory duties. The bill handler argued the rulemaking process already includes public comment and joint-committee oversight and that the REINS requirement would supplement—not replace—those steps for only a small number of high-impact rules.

The House perfected and printed the committee substitute, with supporters urging legislative review of the few rules that meet the fiscal threshold.