H.R.580 - Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 580, the Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act of 2025, aims to amend the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. The bill seeks to enhance regulatory impact analyses for certain rules and increase stakeholder consultation, including private sector input. It also introduces new responsibilities for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and expands the application of the Act to independent regulatory agencies.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to more rigorous analysis of the costs and benefits of federal regulations, particularly those that impose significant mandates on state, local, and tribal governments, as well as the private sector. It could also result in greater transparency and public input in the rulemaking process. The expanded role of OIRA could lead to more centralized oversight of agency regulations.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced transparency in the rulemaking process through mandatory regulatory impact analyses.
- Increased consultation with state, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector, potentially leading to more effective and less burdensome regulations.
- Requirement for agencies to select regulatory alternatives that maximize net benefits, promoting more efficient and cost-effective regulations.
- Greater oversight by OIRA to ensure agency compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
- Potential for reduced costs to state, local, and tribal governments by ensuring federal financial assistance is considered.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased regulatory hurdles and analysis requirements could slow down the rulemaking process, potentially delaying important regulations.
- Expanded OIRA authority could lead to increased political influence over regulatory decisions.
- The focus on quantifiable costs and benefits may undervalue non-quantifiable benefits, such as environmental protection or social equity.
- The inclusion of private sector input could disproportionately favor business interests over public interests.
- Judicial review provisions could lead to increased litigation and legal challenges to agency rules.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the principles of federalism by emphasizing consultation with state, local, and tribal governments, reflecting a concern for the balance of power between the federal government and the states, as outlined in the Tenth Amendment. The emphasis on transparency and public input in the rulemaking process aligns with the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech and the right to petition the government. The expansion of judicial review aligns with Article III, Section 2, which extends the judicial power to all cases arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).