Agencies Submit Third Year Regulatory Reduction Reports
COLUMBUS – All state agencies required to submit reports on their regulatory reduction activity per Senate Bill 9 (134th General Assembly, McColley/Roegner,) have submitted their reports to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), announced JCARR Co-Chairs State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord). This is the last of three reports required by Senate Bill 9, which aim to reduce the regulatory burdens placed on Ohioans due to excessive government restrictions.
Senate Bill 9, signed into law by Governor DeWine in September 2022, set out a three-year timeline for 28 agencies to reduce their existing regulatory inventory by a total of 30% by June 30, 2025. SB9 also established a requirement that for any new regulation introduced by a state agency, two existing restrictions must be eliminated. To monitor their regulatory reduction process, agencies were required to submit inventory reports to JCARR by September 15th of each year to outline their efforts during the previous year. In 2023, 19 agencies achieved their regulatory reduction goal of 10% with eight agencies failing to achieve their reduction goals by the June 2023 deadline (The Department of Children and Youth did not take over a rules inventory until 2024). In 2024, twenty-four agencies achieved a minimum of 20% regulatory reduction while four failed to meet their goal.
With the third phase of reports submitted, all but two agencies have achieved their regulatory reduction goal of 30%. The Department of Commerce and Office of Budget and Management achieved their regulatory reduction goals in 2023 and have maintained those reduction targets over the past two years. Additionally, twelve agencies achieved their 30% regulatory reduction goals in 2024. Those agencies are:
- Department of Administrative Services
- Department of Aging
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Development
- Department of Developmental Disabilities
- Department of Higher Education
- Department of Medicaid
- Department of Natural Resources
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
- State Racing Commission
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Youth Services
“As an attorney and small business owner, I am sure it will come as no surprise to anyone that I believe that while Ohio is improving, there are simply too many unnecessary rules and regulations holding us back from realizing our full potential,” said Gavarone. “This is important. We are here to serve every Ohioan and if there is a rule or regulation that is no longer necessary, no longer makes common sense and disincentivizes investments in Ohio, I want the JCARR committee and staff to take a long, hard look at it to ensure we are doing things the right way. The progress that has been made is a step in the right direction and I cannot wait to spread this news to people in my district and across the state.”
Twelve additional agencies achieved their 30% reduction goals before June 30, 2025. Those agencies are:
- Department of Education and Workforce
- Department of Health
- Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
- Department of Public Safety
- Department of Children and Youth
- Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
- Department of Insurance
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Department of Job and Family Services
- Ohio Lottery Commission
- Department of Taxation
- Ohio Casino Control Commission
“I want to thank all of the agencies who have worked diligently over the past four years to reduce the regulatory burdens on everyday Ohioans,” said Callender. “By looking to the spirit of the law, not just the letter, agencies have demonstrated their commitments to working with the Ohio General Assembly to create a cleaner, more accessible administrative code.”
Of the two agencies that have yet to achieve their regulatory reduction target, one has failed to achieve 30% by the June 30th, 2025 deadline while the other failed to maintain an accurate inventory of their rules, leading to confusion about their compliance with Senate Bill 9. These agencies will be requested to attend a JCARR meeting to answer questions from the committee regarding their efforts to comply with the requirements set out in SB9.
“The regulatory reduction target set by SB 9 serves to cut unnecessary red tape, improve the ways in which Ohioans interact with state agencies, and make our state a better place to live and work,” said Representative Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon). “I am grateful to each of the agencies for their work over the past three years and look forward to continuing to ensure all remaining targets are hit.”
“Senate Bill 9 was about restoring accountability and ensuring Ohioans aren’t buried under unnecessary regulations that stifle growth and innovation. By eliminating outdated and duplicative rules, we’re making government more efficient and responsive while strengthening our economy,” said House Majority Whip Santucci (R-Niles). “I’m encouraged to see that nearly every state agency has now achieved this reduction goal, and we will continue holding agencies accountable so that Ohio remains a place where businesses, families, and communities can thrive.”
JCARR was established in 1977 by the Ohio General Assembly to act as a legislative check on the rulemaking authority of the executive branch. Consisting of 10 members, three of the majority and two of the minority from each chamber, JCARR reviews all proposed new, amended, or rescinded rules from over 100 agencies. Senator Gavarone is currently in her 4th term as JCARR Co-Chair and Representative Callender is in his 8th term as Co-Chair.