Senate Bill 289 aims to amend existing laws regarding the economic impact analysis of proposed administrative rules in Wisconsin. Currently, agencies must halt work on proposed rules that are expected to impose $10 million or more in costs over a two-year period. The bill expands this threshold to include any anticipated implementation and compliance costs, requiring agencies to pause until they either modify the rule to eliminate costs, obtain legislative approval, or promulgate a different rule that offsets the costs. Additionally, the bill mandates that agencies provide a detailed economic impact analysis that includes both expected costs and potential savings, expressed as a single dollar figure.

The bill also introduces new provisions for the economic impact analysis process, including the requirement for agencies to prepare a revised analysis if they modify a proposed rule. It specifies that the analysis must account for costs and savings regardless of the discretion afforded to the agency in determining the rule's policies. Furthermore, it establishes criteria for when an agency can continue with the rule-making process after modifications, ensuring that any new or existing rules can offset the costs associated with the proposed rule. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in the rule-making process by ensuring that the economic implications of proposed rules are thoroughly assessed and communicated.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 227.137(3)(c), 227.137, 227.137(4m)(b)2.a, 227.137(4m)(b)2.b, 227.137(4m)(c)1, 227.139(1), 227.139, 227.139(2)(b), 227.19(5)(b)3.a, 227.19, 227.19(5)(b)3.b