Rules and regulations disproportionately impact small businesses due to the lack of resources they have available in their efforts to remain compliant. Senate Bill 221 brings about much-needed reforms to the rulemaking process in the state of Ohio.

This bill builds upon the legislature’s efforts in previous general assemblies to tackle the issue of overregulation and too much bureaucratic red tape. It was brought forth yesterday before the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee. The Ohio Chamber testified in support of the legislation and spoke about how regulations negatively impact businesses and why SB 221 is necessary.

The bill contains the following five key provisions:

• Adds to the definition of what an adverse impact on business can be by stating that the impact of the rule would directly reduce revenue or increase expenses
• Requires that the source document of a new rule can be readily found and inspected without charge
• Ensures that if the new rule imposes a fee, there must be a justification as to how the fee relates to the cost incurred by the agency
• Allows for the opportunity to request a review of a rule in an expedited manner as opposed to the normal review process
• Instructs state agencies to release internal policies, directives, or instructions to ensure they are not circumventing the rulemaking process

Recently in April, the bill passed out of the Ohio Senate by a wide margin of 30-3 and it is our hope that the House will follow suit and move this common sense, business-friendly initiative quickly. The bill remains a top priority for the Ohio Chamber as it brings about much-needed changes to the regulatory environment and rulemaking process in Ohio.