Ohio agencies continue to cut regulations

(The Center Square) – All but four Ohio government agencies hit a goal of reducing regulations by 20% in the ongoing effort to cut red tape.

Three years ago, Ohio lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine passed a requirement that 27 agencies cut their existing regulations by 30% by June 30, 2025.

That law also established a requirement that any agency creating a new regulation cut two existing regulations. Agencies must also report progress by mid-September each year.

The recently released progress showed 19 agencies hit their goal of 10% in 2023, and eight agencies failed to reach the goal by the June deadline.

This year, in the second phase of reporting, 23 agencies hit the 20% mark, but four missed it. The state did not release which agencies failed to reach the benchmark.

Those four must explain the shortfall before the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.

“Red tape restricts job opportunities and opportunities for businesses to grow,” said Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, co-chairwoman of the committee. “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.”

Thirteen state agencies already have met the 30% reduction goal a year ahead of schedule, including the departments of Administrative Services; Aging; Agriculture; Developmental Disabilities; Higher Education; Medicaid; Natural Resources; Transportation; Youth Services; Commerce; Public Utilities Commission; Ohio Racing Commission; and the Office of Budget and Management.

“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 Rep. Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville.

As previously reported by The Center Square, when the law went into effect three years ago, the Ohio Administrative Code contained 15 million words and about 274,000 unique restrictions, on top of the more than 1 million federal restrictions.

At the time, The Mercatus Center at George Mason University analyzed regulations in 44 states and Washington, D.C. Ohio ranked in the top five, behind only California and New York as being the most restrictive states.