Bill > SB20

This bill modifies Kentucky's administrative regulations process by introducing significant new limitations on state agencies' ability to create or amend regulations. Specifically, the bill redefines "major economic impact" to mean administrative regulations with combined implementation and compliance costs of at least $500,000 over any two-year period, and creates a new section in state law that fundamentally restricts administrative rulemaking after March 31, 2025. Under the new provisions, administrative bodies will generally be prohibited from filing or promulgating new regulations, with exceptions for regulations that: do not have a major economic impact, address imminent public health or safety threats, prevent loss of federal or state funds, meet federal or state deadlines, comply with court orders, or relate to health facility licensure. Additionally, for certain specified state agencies and offices, any new regulation will require both the administrative body's and the Governor's certification that it meets one of the specified exemption criteria. The bill also makes various technical amendments to existing administrative regulation statutes, such as updating references to email and websites, and expanding the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee's review powers. The legislation is declared an emergency and will take effect on March 31, 2025, with the stated goal of increasing legislative oversight and citizen confidence in state government administrative processes.