IRG Report: Wisconsin REINS Act Likely Slowed New Regulations

Delafield, Wis. – The Institute for Reforming Government (IRG) released a new report, “Wisconsin’s Administrative Revolution: Lessons from the REINS Act,” on Monday outlining how the Wisconsin REINS Act likely slowed the creation of new regulations in Wisconsin, making the case for other states and the federal government to consider adopting their own version of REINS.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• While the REINS Act has not reduced the overall number of regulations on the books in Wisconsin, i.e. the overall regulatory burden, the data suggests it has likely reduced the rate of increase that would have almost certainly occurred in an administration.

• Outside of a decrease between 2021 and 2022, the overall number of regulatory restrictions in place in Wisconsin have increased since 2017.

• The average number of permanent rules approved during the Walker Administration were significantly lower than the previous Doyle Administration. In the first year of the Walker Administration the number of permanent rules was reduced by almost 100.

• While the average number of permanent rules passed during the Evers Administration could have been closer to the 2019 high of 166 (which would have far surpassed the Doyle Administration average), the average has instead remained below the Doyle Administration average and is actually closer to the less-than 100 average of the Walker Administration.

WHY IT MATTERS: Wisconsin’s REINS Act, enacted in 2017 under the Walker-Kleefisch Administration, represents a pivotal effort to reform the administrative rulemaking process. Key provisions include strengthened legislative oversight of executive agencies and required economic impact analysis. While other states and the federal government look to decrease unnecessary regulation, they should look to Wisconsin’s example of reform.

THE QUOTE: “Wisconsin’s REINS Act demonstrates the state’s commitment to administrative rulemaking reform, establishing us as a national leader,” – Jake Curtis, General Counsel and the Director of IRG’s Center of Investigative Oversight. “The federal government and other states should look to Wisconsin when considering their own reforms to the administrative state.”

Read the report here. 

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The Institute for Reforming Government is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to simplify government at every level by offering policy solutions to thought leaders in American government in the areas of tax reform, government inefficiency, and burdensome regulations.