REINS Act on the Move

Buckle up, because 2025 is the year of sweeping regulatory reform!

There’s never been a greater desire for comprehensive regulatory reform. After years of record-high inflation, crippling bureaucratic overreach, and governmental barriers galore, the American people are calling on their lawmakers to flex their legislative oversight and get to work to remove red tape that’s burdening our taxpayers and small business owners.

From Georgia to Indiana, Wyoming to Kentucky, North Carolina to Montana and everywhere in between, the REINS Act is on the move. Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny, or REINS for short, is a safeguard for you, the taxpayer, against unelected bureaucratic overreach. If would give your elected officials a greater voice in striking down new regulations that come with a price tag of over $1 million. Sounds like a good idea, right? It’s such a great idea, in fact, that Washington is taking swift action to move REINS Act at the federal level.

In an update to her constituents, bill sponsor Congresswoman Kat Cammack of FL’s 3^rd district shared this week that “the most consequential bill” and “the largest regulatory reform effort in American history” was included in the budget resolution process. In the federal bill, the threshold for legislative oversight is a new regulation with the price tag of $100 million. That’s right, eight zeros. Currently, unelected bureaucrats have authority to impose regulations of that size and impact. If REINS is passed in DC, that will be rectified.

Washington D.C., a place notorious for slow-moving policies, has put REINS Act on the priority list. Why can’t Harrisburg? States like Kansas have passed the REINS Act with a divided government—and again Americans for Prosperity Pennsylvania asks, why can’t Harrisburg?

With the new administration’s sincere focus on the need for regulatory reform, there’s never been a better time to get involved in the fight to protect small businesses from the stifling grip of regulatory barriers. This year, Americans for Prosperity Pennsylvania celebrates 15 years of existence, and throughout those years, one policy goal remains the focus of our work: by removing governmental barriers to opportunity, Pennsylvanians—and Americans—can thrive. We can’t stand by as neighboring states like Ohio and West Virginia pass the REINS Act this year. To make us more competitive, Harrisburg should get to work today to make REINS Act a reality for the Keystone State.

This is Emily Greene, State Director with Americans for Prosperity Pennsylvania.