Senate Bill 981 aims to reform the process by which state agencies review and manage administrative rules. The bill introduces several key changes, including the requirement for agencies to hold public hearings and solicit feedback before finalizing their biennial rules reports. Additionally, it restricts agencies that are delinquent in their reporting from taking any action regarding rule promulgation until they submit their overdue reports. The bill also expands the expedited repeal process, allowing agencies to repeal any rule identified in their biennial report, subject to approval by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR).

The bill repeals certain provisions related to unauthorized rules and renumbers various sections of the statutes to streamline the rule-making process. Notably, it replaces the term "unauthorized rules" with "qualifying rules" and clarifies the criteria for rules that agencies may no longer have the authority to promulgate. The changes aim to enhance accountability and efficiency in the administrative rule-making process while ensuring public participation in the review of rules that may be obsolete or unnecessary.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 35.93(2)(b)3.gm, 35.93, 227.135(2), 227.135, 227.26(4)(title), 227.26, 227.26(4)(a)