S.B. No. 14, the Regulatory Reform and Efficiency Act, seeks to improve the efficiency of state agencies in rule adoption and regulatory requirements by establishing the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office within the governor's office. This office will focus on streamlining the rule adoption process, reducing unnecessary regulations, and enhancing public access to information about state agency rules. It will also create a regulatory economic analysis manual and a regulatory reduction guide to help agencies minimize regulatory burdens while ensuring public safety. Additionally, the bill introduces the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Advisory Panel to provide expertise in identifying ineffective rules and assessing the economic impact of regulations.

The bill amends various sections of the Government Code to improve the clarity and accessibility of proposed rules, including a new definition of "plain language" to ensure comprehensibility for the general public. It modifies procedural requirements for contesting rules, establishing that a rule is voidable unless adopted in substantial compliance with specified sections and setting a two-year limit for initiating noncompliance proceedings. The bill also allows courts to remand rules to agencies for revision while maintaining their effectiveness and promotes independent judicial review by stating that courts are not required to defer to state agencies' legal determinations. Certain existing sections are repealed, and the new provisions will apply only to rules proposed and proceedings initiated after the Act's effective date, with implementation contingent upon legislative appropriations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2001.007, Government Code 2001.024, Government Code 2001.035, Government Code 2001.040, Government Code 2001.022 (Government Code 2001)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 2001.007, Government Code 2001.024, Government Code 2001.035, Government Code 2001.040, Government Code 2001.022 (Government Code 2001)
Engrossed: Government Code 2001.007, Government Code 2001.024, Government Code 2001.035, Government Code 2001.040, Government Code 2001.022 (Government Code 2001)
House Committee Report: Government Code 2001.007, Government Code 2001.024, Government Code 2001.035, Government Code 2001.040, Government Code 2001.022 (Government Code 2001)
Enrolled: Government Code 2001.007, Government Code 2001.024, Government Code 2001.035, Government Code 2001.040, Government Code 2001.022 (Government Code 2001)