# Plain Language Summary: Cutting Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens Act

This bill creates a "two-for-one" rule for federal agencies. Whenever an agency wants to create a new major regulation, it must first get rid of at least two existing regulations. The idea behind this is to prevent the total amount of regulations from growing—if you add something new, you have to remove something old to balance it out. The new regulation can't cost more than the regulations being eliminated unless Congress specifically requires it or the Director of the Office of Management and Budget gives written permission.

The bill applies to all federal agencies, from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Labor, whenever they're creating what's considered a "major rule"—basically regulations that have significant economic impact. However, there are some important exceptions. Rules related to national security, the military, foreign affairs, and internal agency operations (like how an agency organizes itself or manages its employees) don't have to follow this two-for-one requirement.

In practical terms, this could slow down the regulatory process. Agencies would need to spend time identifying which old rules to eliminate before they can implement new ones, which means new protections or requirements might take longer to put in place. Supporters argue this prevents regulatory overreach and reduces unnecessary bureaucracy. Critics worry it could prevent agencies from updating outdated rules or adding important new protections, since they'd be forced to eliminate something else first. The real impact would depend on which regulations agencies choose to eliminate and whether those old rules are actually outdated or still serve important purposes.

Cutting Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens Act

Franklin, Scott

Cutting Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens Act This bill generally requires agencies to repeal at least two rules before promulgating a major rule (i.e., a rule with a significant economic impact, cost to consumers, or adverse effects on competition). Further, unless required by law, an agency may not issue a rule that exceeds the total cost of the rules to be repealed without approval by the Office of Management and Budget. These requirements do not apply to major rules related to agency procedures, the Armed Forces, national security, or foreign affairs.