Description: The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 includes significant changes to the rulemaking procedures that apply to all federal agencies. These include requirements to analyze “any substantial alternatives” to a rule identified by “interested persons,” hold public hearings on “high impact rules” at the request of any individual, and choose the lowest-cost alternatives that meet statutory objectives. It also ends the precedent of judicial deference to agencies on statutory and regulatory interpretations.

Fair Economy Impact:  This legislation provides potentially regulated entities and their allies with unprecedented power to interfere with and delay the regulatory process.  The bill requires agencies to consider costs associated with rulemaking as opposed to balancing costs with public benefits.

Actions:

• Received in the Senate January 12, 2017

• Passed by the House (238-183) January 11, 2017