Harrisburg – With Pennsylvania’s employment rate lagging behind those of other states emerging from the pandemic, the state Senate this week approved several bills to rein in job-stifling regulations, Senator Scott Martin (R-13) said.
The bills increase legislative oversight of a process too often influenced by unelected bureaucrats, adding special scrutiny for the costliest proposed regulations.
“For too long, Pennsylvania’s maze of regulations has hampered job creation, putting too much power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats,” Martin said. “These reform measures will give citizens a voice through their elected representatives and shed more light on the regulatory process.”
The Senate approved the following regulatory reform measures:
- Senate Bill 28 – Ensures transparency in permitting. The bill would require all agencies that issue permits to post information about the permits on an accessible tracking system for applicants to check the status of their applications.
- Senate Bill 126 – Provides for an automatic review after three years of all regulations with an economic impact or cost to the Commonwealth, local governments and the private sector exceeding $1 million.
- Senate Bill 426 – Provides additional legislative oversight of the regulatory review process. The goal of the legislation is to ensure state agencies are implementing the law and not trying to make the laws themselves.
- Senate Bill 520 – Requires the General Assembly to approve all regulations with an economic impact or cost to the Commonwealth, local governments and the private sector exceeding $1 million.
The bills were sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT: Terry Trego ttrego@pasen.gov 717-397-1309.