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H 7307Ethics & Transparency

State Affairs and Government - Rhode Island Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act

State agencies must obtain legislative approval before enacting expensive regulations that cost over one million dollars to implement.

Held for study
Population
Affected
65
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 23, 2026Committee House State Government & Elections

Plain-English Summary

This legislation, known as the "RI REINS Act," changes how state agencies create new rules and regulations. It requires agencies to calculate the cost of any proposed regulation. If a regulation is estimated to cost businesses or individuals $1 million or more over two years to implement or comply with, it is classified as a "major regulation." These major regulations cannot go into effect unless the State General Assembly specifically votes to approve them. The bill includes exceptions for emergency situations and rules required by federal law.

For younger readers

Sometimes, the people who run different parts of the state government want to make new rules. This bill says that if a new rule is going to cost a lot of money—more than one million dollars—the government agencies can't just make it happen on their own. Instead, they have to ask the elected leaders in the General Assembly to say "yes" first. It is designed to make sure that big, expensive rules are double-checked by the people we vote for before they start.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Executive branch agenciesBusiness ownersGeneral Assembly membersTaxpayersIndustry lobbyists
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Increases democratic accountability by ensuring that elected representatives, rather than unelected officials, have the final say on policies with significant economic impacts.
  • Provides greater transparency regarding the financial implications of government actions, allowing the public to better understand how regulations affect the state economy.
  • Prevents potential overreach by the executive branch, ensuring that major policy shifts undergo a public legislative process and debate.
  • Creates significant hurdles for agencies trying to implement necessary environmental protections or worker safety rules, potentially delaying critical public safeguards.
  • Shifts decision-making on complex technical issues from subject-matter experts in agencies to politicians, potentially politicizing health and safety standards.
  • Likely increases the influence of corporate lobbyists who can pressure legislators to block regulations that reduce profits, even if those regulations benefit the public good.
For Conservatives
  • Protects businesses and job creators from facing expensive, unexpected mandates imposed by unelected bureaucrats without legislative consent.
  • Restores the constitutional separation of powers by ensuring the legislature functions as the primary lawmaking body, rather than administrative agencies.
  • Promotes fiscal responsibility by requiring a rigorous economic impact analysis before major rules can be imposed on the private sector.
  • Could unintentionally hinder a conservative governor's efforts to streamline or deregulate government if those changes have implementation costs that trigger the review process.
  • Creates additional bureaucratic red tape and administrative costs by mandating extensive economic impact analyses for proposed rules.
  • The one million dollar threshold may be too high, allowing smaller but still intrusive regulations to pass without the same level of legislative scrutiny.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 52 additions

SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 42-6.3-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny Act" or the "RI REINS Act." 42-6.3-2. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure accountability, transparency, and democratic oversight of administrative rulemaking by requiring affirmative legislative approval for significant regulations promulgated by executive agencies, consistent with the separation of powers. 42-6.3-3. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1) "Agency" means any executive department, board, commission, council, or other administrative unit of the State of Rhode Island that promulgates regulations under chapter 35 of title 42.

(2) "Legislative approval resolution" means a bill, joint resolution, or other express legislative enactment authorizing the major regulation to take effect.

(3) "Major regulation" means any proposed regulation that the agency estimates will have aggregate implementation or compliance costs of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more over a two (2) year period measured from the regulation’s effective date.

(4) "Rule" or "regulation" means any agency statement of general applicability having the force of law, including interpretations, standards, and requirements. 42-6.3-4. Economic impact analysis and certification.

(a) Prior to submitting any proposed regulation to the rulemaking process, the agency shall prepare an economic impact analysis that quantifies the projected costs of implementation and compliance over a two (2) year period.

(b) The economic impact analysis shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on finance for review. 42-6.3-5. Legislative review and approval requirement.

(a) If the economic impact analysis demonstrates that the proposed regulation is a major regulation, the agency shall not adopt or implement the regulation unless and until the general assembly passes a legislative approval resolution specifically authorizing the regulation.

(b) The agency shall transmit the proposed major regulation and its economic impact analysis to the secretary of state, who shall promptly refer it to the general assembly for consideration.

(c) A major regulation shall remain ineffective and unenforceable until:

(1) A legislative approval resolution has passed both chambers of the general assembly; and

(2) Such resolution is presented to the governor for signature or otherwise becomes law in accordance with the Rhode Island constitution. 42-6.3-6. Exceptions.

(a) Emergency regulations necessary for public health, safety, or welfare may be promulgated without prior legislative approval, but such regulations must be submitted to the general assembly within thirty (30) days and shall expire after ninety (90) days unless expressly ratified by the legislature.

(b) Regulations that are expressly required by federal law, federal court order, or state constitutional mandate are exempt from the requirements of this chapter. 42-6.3-7. Reporting and sunset review.

(a) Agencies shall include with each annual regulatory agenda a summary of all proposed regulations subject to this chapter, including cost analyses and approval status.

(b) The provisions of this chapter shall be reviewed by the house and senate committees on judiciary and government oversight every five (5) years. 42-6.3-8. Severability. If any provision of this chapter, or the application thereof, is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.