Regulation Decimation Act

This bill requires federal agencies to repeal certain existing rules prior to issuing a new rule.

Specifically, the bill prohibits an agency from issuing a rule that imposes a cost or responsibility on a nongovernmental person or a state or local government unless it repeals ten or more related rules.

Additionally, an agency may not issue a major rule that imposes such a cost or responsibility unless (1) the agency has repealed ten or more related rules, and (2) the cost of the new rule is less than or equal to the cost of the rules being repealed. A major rule is a rule that has resulted in or is likely to result in (1) an annual economic effect of at least $100 million; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, or innovation.

Any such repealed rule must be published in the Federal Register.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service.