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Restoring Checks and Balances Act
To sunset new Federal regulatory rules after 5 years, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill requires all new federal regulations to expire automatically after five years unless Congress specifically reauthorizes them. Agencies must submit reauthorization requests to Congress by December 1 of the year before a regulation is scheduled to sunset, including justification for each rule and any related rules. Once a regulation sunsets, federal agencies cannot reissue, enforce, or revise it without congressional approval. The bill exempts certain rules from this sunset requirement, including those related to military or foreign affairs functions, criminal law enforcement, internal agency matters, and those addressing imminent threats to health or safety. Agencies are encouraged to bundle multiple reauthorization requests in a single submission to Congress.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
2 cosponsors
Actions (2)
- Feb 12, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Feb 12, 2025 Introduced in House
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2025
Mr. Stutzman (for himself, Mr. Weber of Texas, and Mr. Norman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To sunset new Federal regulatory rules after 5 years, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Restoring Checks and Balances Act”.
SEC. 2. SUNSET OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS AFTER 5 YEARS.
(a) Sunset.—Any covered rule issued by an agency after the date of the enactment of this Act shall sunset on the date that is five years after the effective date of such covered rule, unless specifically reauthorized by an Act of Congress.
(b) After Sunset.—An agency may not reissue, enforce, revise, or take other regulatory action related to a covered rule that has sunset under subsection (a).
(c) Oversight by OMB and Heads of Agencies.—The Director of the Office of Management and Budget or the head of the relevant agency may oversee the sunset of covered rules under subsection (a).
SEC. 3. SUBMISSION OF REQUEST FOR REAUTHORIZATION TO CONGRESS.
(a) Request for Reauthorization.—If the head of an agency that issues covered rules wants to request a reauthorization for such rules, such head shall, not later than the December 1 that is one year before the date on which the covered rule is scheduled to sunset, submit to Congress and any appropriate committee of Congress a report containing such request that includes—
(1) a justification for the reauthorization of each covered rule;
(2) any related covered rules; and
(3) any recommendation or request made by the chair or ranking member of an appropriate committee of Congress.
(b) Single Submission.—The head of an agency submitting a request for reauthorization under subsection (a) shall make every effort to bundle multiple requests for reauthorization in a single submission.
(c) Public Availability of Reports.—Any report submitted by the head of an agency under subsection (a) shall be published on the public website of the agency.
SEC. 4. RELATIONSHIP TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede the provisions of chapter 5, 6, or 7 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agency.—The term “agency” has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Administrator.—The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget.
(3) Covered rule.—The term “covered rule” has the meaning given the term “rule” in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, but does not include a rule—
(A) issued in accordance with the formal rulemaking provisions of sections 556 and 557 of title 5, United States Code;
(B) issued with respect to a military or foreign affairs function of the United States;
(C) that the Administrator certifies in writing is necessary for the enforcement of Federal criminal laws;
(D) that is limited to agency organization, management, or personnel matters; or
(E) that is necessary due to an imminent threat to human health or safety or any other emergency.
(4) Sunset.—The term “sunset” means to have no force or effect. <all>
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