Agencies Submit Second 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 second of three regulatory reduction reports required by SB9, which aim to reduce the regulatory burdens placed on Ohioans due to excessive government restrictions.

SB9, signed into law by Governor DeWine in September 2022, set out a three-year timeline for 27 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 are 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.
With the second phase of reports submitted, 23 agencies have achieved their regulatory reduction goal of 20% while four have failed to do so. Those agencies who have achieved their reduction goals are:
• Department of Administrative Services
• Department of Aging
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Developmental Disabilities
• Department of Higher Education
• Department of Medicaid
• Department of Natural Resources
• Public Utilities Commission
• Ohio Racing Commission
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Youth Services
• Office of Budget and Management
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
• Department of Veterans Services
• Bureau of Workers Compensation
• Department of Education and Workforce
• Department of Health
• Department of Job and Family Services
• Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Ohio Casino Control Commission
• Department of Public Safety
• Department of Taxation

"Red tape restricts job opportunities and opportunities for businesses to grow," said Gavarone. "More bureaucracy limits the freedom and choices we all have, and Senate Bill 9 helps make sure we are keeping government agencies focused on service rather than rule making and restrictions."

Of the agencies who have achieved their regulatory reduction goal, 13 have already achieved the targeted 30% reduction a year early. Those agencies are:
• Department of Administrative Services
• Department of Aging
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Developmental Disabilities
• Department of Higher Education
• Department of Medicaid
• Department of Natural Resources
• Public Utilities Commission
• Ohio Racing Commission
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Youth Services
• Office of Budget and Management
• Department of Commerce

"I want to thank the agencies who have achieved their regulatory reduction goals," said Callender. "The improvement from the reports submitted last year demonstrate not only a commitment to the intent of the legislature, but to reducing regulatory burden on Ohioans."

The four agencies who have not yet achieved their regulatory reduction goals will be requested to attend a JCARR meeting to answer questions from the committee regarding their efforts to come into compliance with the requirements set out in SB9.

"Excessive government bureaucracy enfeebles the ability of just about every Ohioan attempting to grow their business or live their daily life unless they have the resources necessary to push back," said State Representative and JCARR Committee member Brett Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville).

"I am grateful we were able to shrink government for all Ohioans," said State Representative and JCARR committee member Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon). "The hard work of the agencies and the committee is bearing fruit with a lesser regulatory burden for Ohio businesses and families."

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.

Senator Gavarone is currently in her 3rd term as JCARR Co-Chair and Representative Callender is in his 7th term as Co-Chair.

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