The bill amends the rules and regulations filing act to enhance the efficiency of the rulemaking process for state agencies. It allows agencies to make nonsubstantive technical amendments to existing rules without initiating new rulemaking proceedings and establishes a priority status for certain proposed rules to expedite their processing. Additionally, it clarifies that the Department of Budget is not required to approve rules mandated by federal law and exempts specific rules from the Department of Corrections from the act. The bill also refines definitions and requirements related to filing and economic impact statements, including the deletion of the requirement for the board to file disposal schedules with the Secretary of State and the elimination of public hearing attendance records in economic impact statements.

Moreover, the bill introduces new requirements for environmental benefit and economic impact statements, mandating consultation with other agencies and updating these statements at the time of filing. It specifies that economic impact statements must detail compliance and implementation costs, as well as the potential costs of not adopting the rules. The bill also establishes that any proposed rule expected to incur costs exceeding $1,000,000 must be ratified by the legislature before adoption, allowing legislators to introduce bills for such rules. It requires state agencies to maintain records of public hearings for at least three years and mandates that rules be adopted in public meetings with a majority roll call vote. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the rulemaking process while ensuring transparency and stakeholder engagement.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 75-3504, 77-415, 77-416, 77-419, 77-420, 77-421, 77-437, 77-436, 77-441, 77-418