Measure Reining in Unaccountable Bureaucracy and Bringing Transparency to Rulemaking Process Passes NC Senate
Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Senate approved a bill that takes critical steps to rein in costly bureaucracy and bring much-needed transparency to our state's rulemaking process.
House Bill 402, "Limit Rules with Substantial Financial Costs," received a 26-17 vote on Tuesday.
"This is a straightforward, commonsense bill ensuring that costly rules implemented by unelected bureaucrats get a second look from the General Assembly," Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said.
Sen. Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson) said, "We have dozens of boards and commissions that have broad rulemaking authority in our state. Those rules have significant impacts on the daily lives of North Carolinians, and it's important to have an avenue to hold these boards accountable and bring much-needed transparency to the rulemaking process. That's why this bill is vital.”
The bill requires the General Assembly to approve any proposed permanent rule that would cost $20 million or more over five years, unless otherwise mandated by federal law. Additionally, if a rule is found to cost more than $1 million over five years, then a 2/3 vote of the relevant board will be required for it to be adopted. For any rule that would cost more than $10 million over five years, a unanimous vote would be needed unless it is a federally mandated rule.
By redefining "substantial economic impact" to include rules with a $1 million impact over five years, instead of just 12 months, House Bill 402 promotes greater transparency through detailed fiscal notes, giving stakeholders a clear picture of long-term costs.
The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Are you tired of being bombarded by paywalls and pop-up ads when trying to read the news? Do you believe that access to reliable political news should be free and accessible to everyone? Then we urge you to support NC Political News, a weekly electronic political news outlet.
NC Political News is committed to providing high-quality, unbiased political reporting with columnists from all political sides. Unlike other news outlets, NC Political News is free to read and supported by businesses who purchase ad space on our website and in our newsletter, which goes out Monday through Friday at 7:00 am. This means that readers like you can access the news without being asked to pay a cent or dealing with frustrating advertisements.
However, to continue providing this valuable service, NC Political News needs your support. If you believe in the importance of accessible, free news, we urge you to click the image below. Any amount of support is appreciated.
Together, we can keep the news free and help ensure our state stays informed and connected.
