SB180: OK Legislators Dreading Your Comments: Fear of Feedback Tsunami Grows

Flood of public input: can key issues survive the wave of public comments?

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What does SB180 want to accomplish?

SB180 makes changes to how rules are created and reviewed.

Here’s what it does:

1. Public Comments Required: When agencies propose new rules, they must now include all the public comments they receive, not just a summary. This means everyone’s opinions will be part of the review process.
2. Updates to the Law: The law is updated to reflect these changes and improve how rules are handled.
3. Immediate Effect: The changes will start right away as soon as the bill is passed and approved, due to an emergency declaration.

In short, this bill aims to make rulemaking more transparent by including all public feedback in the review process.

Who will benefit from this law?

✔️The Public: People will have more transparency because all public comments on proposed rules will be included, allowing them to see exactly what others think about new regulations.

✔️Stakeholders: Individuals or groups affected by new rules will have their full input considered, leading to more balanced and fair rulemaking.

✔️Transparency Advocates: Those who advocate for open government and public involvement will see a positive change, as the law ensures that all comments are available for review.

✔️Policy Makers: Lawmakers and agencies will have a clearer view of public opinion and concerns, which can help them make better decisions and improve rules.

✔️Community Groups: Organizations and interest groups that represent various sectors of the community will be able to see how their feedback is used in the rulemaking process.

What are some concerns people might have about this law?

⚠️Increased Paperwork: Agencies will have to handle and submit all public comments, which could lead to more administrative work and paperwork.

⚠️Longer Review Times: Including all public comments could slow down the rulemaking process because agencies might need more time to review and compile this information.

⚠️Overwhelming Amount of Data: For some rules, especially those with a lot of public feedback, the sheer volume of comments could be overwhelming and hard to manage.

⚠️Potential for Confusion: The inclusion of all comments might lead to confusion or difficulty in identifying key issues or trends among the feedback.

⚠️Resource Strain: Smaller agencies or those with limited resources might find it challenging to manage the increased workload and ensure all comments are properly reviewed and filed.

⚠️Public Misunderstanding: People might misinterpret the inclusion of all comments as a sign that all comments will be addressed or acted upon, leading to unrealistic expectations.

⚠️Privacy Concerns: Depending on how comments are collected and published, there might be concerns about the privacy of individuals who submit feedback.

⚠️Possible Delays in Implementation: The additional requirement could delay the implementation of new rules if agencies need extra time to process and review all comments.

⚠️Increased Costs: Handling and processing all comments could lead to higher operational costs for agencies.

⚠️Distraction from Key Issues: With a large volume of comments, it might be harder to focus on the most important issues and make decisions based on critical feedback.

This bill is making its way through the legislative process. When introduced, it was set to go into effect at the end of 2023. It remains in committee.

➡️Is this something that you think Oklahomans need? How will it benefit the county you live in?

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