4.16.25 – OCPA
Within a matter of hours on the same day, members of the Oklahoma Legislature advanced two measures designed to significantly restrict regulation in Oklahoma.
House Bill 2728, by state Rep. Gerrid Kendrix and state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, would create the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025.
Under the bill, a Legislative Economic Analysis Unit (LEAU) will be created within the existing Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) to independently review and assess the economic impact of major rules proposed by state agencies.
The legislation defines “major rule” to include any agency rule with an economic impact of $1 million or more over a five-year period.
Under HB 2728, a major rule with an impact of $1 million or more cannot take effect unless it is explicitly approved by both chambers of the Legislature.
“Too often, administrative rules written by unelected agency bureaucrats go into effect without any input from the people’s elected representatives.” —State Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (R-Altus)
The process proposed in HB 2728 is a dramatic shift from the current administrative-rules process.
Under current law, all state agency rules automatically go into effect unless specifically rejected by the Legislature.
According to the 2024 edition of “Snapshots of State Regulations,” issued by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Oklahoma is the 17th-most regulated state in the country with 142,313 regulations on the books.
Policymakers in Florida enacted their version of the REINS Act in 2010. Since that time, Florida has seen a 51 percent decrease in the number of rules proposed through the administrative process.
HB 2728 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on a 16-2 vote. The bill now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma Senate.
Earlier the same day, members of the House Administrative Rules Committee advanced a similar measure that would be even more restrictive.
Senate Bill 995, by Bergstrom and Kendrix, would require that all administrative rules be approved through a joint resolution of the Legislature before taking effect. Any rules not explicitly approved would be considered disapproved.
“Too often, administrative rules written by unelected agency bureaucrats go into effect without any input from the people’s elected representatives,” said Kendrix, an Altus Republican who chairs the House Administrative Rules Committee. “This undermines the role of the Legislature and, by extension, the voices of our constituents. Senate Bill 995 ensures that lawmakers have the final say on new rules before they take effect. This bill provides the transparency and accountability Oklahomans deserve, and I believe the time is right to get it done.”
SB 995 passed the House Administrative Rules Committee on an 11-0 vote and now moves to the House floor for consideration.
