HB 1601 — An Act amending the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act, further providing for definitions, for proposed regulations and procedures for review and for final-form regulations and final-omitted regulations and procedures for review; providing for regulations deemed withdrawn; further providing for procedures for subsequent review of disapproved final-form or final-omitted regulations; and providing for concurrent resolution required for economically significant regulations.

Summary

REINS Act-Amends the Regulatory Review Act

Bill Text

• Printer's No. 1917 View text Current

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The bill amends the Regulatory Review Act to enhance oversight of proposed regulations, particularly concerning economically significant regulations, and introduces new definitional and procedural requirements.

• Section 3

  None → "Economically significant regulation." A regulation that, if promulgated and implemented, may reasonably be expected to result in direct or indirect cost to the Commonwealth, to its political subdivisions and to the private sector in excess of $1,000,000 on an annual basis.

  Defines an 'economically significant regulation' based on its potential fiscal impact.

• Section 5(a)(1.1)

  None → A specific citation to the Federal or State statutory or regulatory authority or the decision of a Federal or State court under which the agency is proposing the regulation, which the regulation is designed to implement or which may mandate or affect compliance with the regulation.

  Requires agencies to specify the legal authority for proposed regulations.

• Section 5(a)(4)

  [Insofar as the proposed regulation relates to costs to the Commonwealth, the agency may submit in lieu of its own statement the fiscal note prepared by the Office of the Budget pursuant to section 612 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as "The Administrative Code of 1929."] → The estimates shall be prepared by the Independent Fiscal Office and submitted to the agency for inclusion in the regulatory analysis form and shall include an estimate of the annual costs to be used to determine whether the regulation is an economically significant regulation.

  Shifts the responsibility for cost estimates related to regulations to the Independent Fiscal Office.

• Section 5.1(e)

  Notwithstanding subsections (j.1) and (j.2), at any time prior to 24 hours before the commission's meeting to consider a regulation, a committee may notify the commission and the agency that the committee disapproves or intends to further review the final-form regulation. → Notwithstanding subsections (j.1) and (j.2), at any time prior to 24 hours before the commission's meeting to consider a regulation, a committee may notify the commission and the agency that the committee disapproves or intends to further review the final-form regulation.

  Clarifies the process for committees to notify about their review or disapproval of final-form regulations.

• Section 5.1(j.2)(3)

  this 14-day period → the period established under paragraph (2)

  Standardizes the language regarding the review period committees have for regulations.

• Section 5.1(j.3)

  [14-day] → [the period established under subsection (j.2)(2)]

  Aligns the review period language with updated provisions.

• Section 5.1(l)

  until completion of the review provided for in this act[.] → until completion of the review provided for in this act and, if the regulation is an economically significant regulation, the General Assembly adopts a resolution under section 7.2 and the Governor signs the resolution.

  Adds a requirement for General Assembly resolution and Governor's signature for economically significant regulations before promulgation.

• Section 5.3

  None → A regulation shall be deemed withdrawn if there is no provision of a State statute which explicitly states that the agency may promulgate regulations for the specific purpose cited in the statement of need for the regulation under section 5(a)(3) and the regulatory analysis form submitted for the regulation does not comply with the requirements of section 5(a)(1.1).

  Establishes grounds for regulations to be deemed withdrawn due to compliance failures.

Action History

1. June 16, 2025

   Referred to INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND OPERATIONS, June 16, 2025

Sponsors

• Tom Jones · Cosponsor
• Dallas Kephart · Primary
• Keith J. Greiner · Cosponsor
• Joe Hamm · Cosponsor
• Russ Diamond · Cosponsor
• Joseph D'Orsie · Cosponsor
• Jamie Walsh · Cosponsor
• Aaron Bernstine · Cosponsor
• Michael Stender · Cosponsor
• Thomas H. Kutz · Cosponsor
• Brian C. Rasel · Cosponsor
• Brian Smith · Cosponsor
• Jeff Olsommer · Cosponsor
• Martin T. Causer · Cosponsor
• Marc S. Anderson · Cosponsor
• Andrew Kuzma · Cosponsor
• David H. Zimmerman · Cosponsor
• David H. Rowe · Cosponsor
• Charity Grimm Krupa · Cosponsor
• Perry A. Stambaugh · Cosponsor
• Steven C. Mentzer · Cosponsor
• Kristin Marcell · Cosponsor
• Stephenie Scialabba · Cosponsor

Subjects