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Bill

HB 401

State agencies; require simultaneous repeal of two existing rules whenever proposed new rule takes effect.

2025 Regular Session

Mississippi bill requiring agencies to repeal two existing rules for every new rule enacted to reduce regulatory burden died in committee.

Died In Committee
#accountability #efficiency #transparency
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Bill Summary · HB 401

Legislative bill overview

HB 401 would require Mississippi state agencies to simultaneously repeal two existing rules whenever they propose and implement a new rule. This creates a "two-out, one-in" regulatory framework designed to prevent regulatory accumulation. The bill died in the Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency committee on February 4, 2025.

Why is this important

Regulatory accumulation can create compliance burdens and obscure government operations, but this mechanism directly affects how agencies function and respond to public needs. The requirement could either streamline outdated rules or potentially force the elimination of important regulations to make room for necessary new ones, depending on implementation and agency discretion.

Potential points of contention

  • Inflexibility in rulemaking: Agencies might struggle to implement necessary new rules if suitable old rules cannot be identified for repeal, or they may eliminate still-useful regulations simply to meet the numerical requirement
  • Public safety and compliance concerns: Agencies regulating health, safety, or environmental standards might face pressure to remove protections to create regulatory "room" for new rules
  • Definition and scope ambiguity: The bill's language doesn't clarify what constitutes a "rule," how similar rules are grouped, or whether exemptions exist for critical regulations, potentially leading to disputes over implementation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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