Mid City Times

Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, representing Texas's 24th district and a member of the Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, has introduced new legislation aimed at reducing federal government regulation. The proposed bill, known as the Agency Accountability and Cost Transparency Act, seeks to address what Van Duyne describes as overregulation by requiring federal agencies to adhere to budget neutrality when issuing major rules.

Rep. Van Duyne expressed her concerns about current regulatory practices, stating, "Nameless, faceless bureaucrats with zero private sector experience regularly attempt to regulate our job creators out of existence." She emphasized that her legislation aims to protect small businesses and the public by ensuring regulations are budget neutral.

The Agency Accountability and Cost Transparency Act introduces several key measures. It mandates that federal agencies provide a cost estimation before implementing any major rule—a term defined as regulations with an annual economic impact of $100 million or more, significant price increases, or market disruption. Additionally, if a new rule is introduced, an existing regulation must be repealed to offset its cost. The financial burden on the public will include compliance and implementation costs.

Furthermore, agencies are required to operate transparently by including a public statement in the Federal Register confirming whether a rule is budget neutral.