Waukesha Times

Today in Madison, Republican lawmakers, including members from the State Assembly and State Senate, introduced a legislative package called "Wisconsin's Red Tape Reset." The bills aim to reduce regulatory burden by cutting red tape, increasing oversight on agency regulations, and ensuring a more accountable regulatory framework. Wisconsin currently ranks as the 13th most regulated state in the U.S. and the 2nd in the Midwest, with over 160,000 regulatory restrictions.

The first of the proposed bills, LRB-0565, introduced by Representative Neylon and Senator Nass, calls for a seven-year sunset on each chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. "That is why I am authoring a regulatory sunset bill, ensuring all regulatory code must periodically justify its existence," said Representative Neylon. The bill empowers the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) to review and readopt regulations, allowing for public input during the process.

LRB-0566, proposed by Representative Gustafson and Senator Bradley, introduces a net-zero regulatory budgeting framework. "We want to grow the size of Wisconsin’s economy – not its rulebook," stated Senator Bradley. Representative Gustafson added, "New regulations? Show the price tag. WI needs net-zero budgeting—no more blank checks for big government." The bill aims for new regulations with economic impacts to be offset by repealing or revising existing ones.

Representative Knodl and Senator Hutton introduced LRB-0567, which requires that each regulation must be backed by a separate scope statement. "This bill is about good governance," remarked Representative Knodl. Senator Hutton emphasized, "We’re restoring integrity to the rulemaking process."

The final bill, LRB-0568, backed by Representative Tusler and Senator Wimberger, seeks to empower plaintiffs challenging unlawful administrative rules by requiring courts to award attorney fees. "LRB 0568 will make Wisconsinites more confident in the law," said Senator Wimberger. Representative Tusler explained, "Unelected bureaucrats shouldn’t be writing the rules that govern our lives."

The legislative package reflects a broader effort to streamline Wisconsin's regulatory environment and stimulate economic growth.