Overview
Title
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for a 6 month delay before a final rule may take effect.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to make sure new rules take a 6-month break before they start, so everyone has more time to think about them and talk it over.
Summary AI
The bill H. R. 510, titled the “Regulatory Cooling Off Act of 2025,” aims to amend Title 5 of the United States Code to introduce a 6-month delay before any new rules can take effect. It changes existing laws by extending the consultation period with interested parties and requiring agencies to submit finalized rules to Congress six months prior to their effective dates. Additionally, rules must be published in the Federal Register and posted online 24 hours before publication, and legal actions related to these rules can be brought to certain district courts.
Published
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Regulatory Cooling Off Act of 2025," primarily aims to amend Title 5 of the United States Code. The key component of this bill is a mandatory six-month delay before any finalized governmental rule can take effect. The bill dictates that agencies submit such rules to Congress well in advance, thereby extending the current 30-day wait period to six months. Additionally, the bill outlines several procedural requirements, such as public posting of rules on agency websites and accommodating legal actions in various judicial districts where an agency has an office.
Summary of Significant Issues
The bill raises several important issues concerning procedural delays and operational burdens. Extending the effective date of regulations from 30 days to six months could lead to significant delays in implementing potentially critical rules, which might hinder responsive policymaking, especially in time-sensitive domains. The requirement for agencies to submit finalized rules to Congress six months in advance layer additional procedural demands on the legislative and administrative processes, potentially causing bureaucratic slowdowns. The proposal that allows legal actions in any district where an agency maintains an office also raises concerns about judicial efficiency and the risk of forum shopping.
Additionally, the stipulation for agencies to post rules online at least 24 hours before their publication in the Federal Register could lead to logistical problems, especially regarding the timely update of information. The complexity of the bill's language and format may pose challenges for readers, leading to misunderstandings about compliance requirements.
Potential Impact on the Public
Broadly speaking, the bill's introduction of extended delays before implementing new regulations could have mixed effects on the public. On one hand, the cooling-off period could provide more time for various stakeholders to review and respond to new regulations, potentially increasing transparency and accountability. On the other hand, it could slow down the response time for enacting important regulations, impacting sectors that require quick adaptation to changing circumstances, such as environmental protections, financial regulations, or public health measures.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Stakeholders such as regulatory agencies might find the bill's requirements to be burdensome, as it necessitates additional procedural steps that could strain resources and delay the effectiveness of necessary rules. This delay could be particularly relevant in cases where swift regulatory action is needed. Conversely, businesses and industries that typically oppose rapid regulatory changes might benefit from the extended timeframe, granting them more time to adjust and plan for compliance.
Legal professionals might experience an uptick in activity due to the broadened jurisdiction for legal actions, increasing complexities in litigation strategies. This could potentially lead to forum shopping, where cases are filed in favorable jurisdictions, complicating uniform legal outcomes. While the public might gain from increased transparency through early rule publication, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in updating such information could pose challenges for agencies, potentially leading to misinformation if not managed adequately.
Issues
The amendment to section 553(d) extending the rule effective date from 30 days to 6 months could lead to significant and unnecessary delays in implementing important regulations, which may have serious implications for time-sensitive policies. (Section 2.)
The requirement for agencies to submit finalized rules to Congress six months before the effective date might create significant procedural burdens, risk bureaucratic delays, and increase the complexity of legislative processes. (Section 2.)
Allowing legal actions under section 702 to be brought in any district where the agency has an office raises potential concerns about judicial efficiency and could encourage forum shopping by plaintiffs, possibly leading to inconsistent legal outcomes. (Section 2.)
The mandate for agencies to post rules on their website at least 24 hours before publication in the Federal Register could present logistical challenges, and complications with timely compliance could lead to misinformation or outdated data being available online. (Section 2.)
The language used in amendments, such as 'not later than the date that is 6 months prior to the effective date of such rule,' could cause confusion due to its complexity and lack of clarity, affecting agencies' and stakeholders’ understanding of specific deadline requirements. (Section 2.)
The intricate structure of amendments with nested subsections could pose challenges for readers unfamiliar with legislative documents, potentially hindering public understanding and transparency of the legislative changes being proposed. (Section 2.)
The section providing only a short title without specific legislative content lacks the necessary substantive information that could be evaluated for clarity, complexity, or potential concerns, such as wasteful spending or favoritism. (Section 1.)
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act states that it may be referred to as the "Regulatory Cooling Off Act of 2025."
2. Delay in effective date of rules Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed amendments to Title 5 of the United States Code require agencies to submit finalized rules to Congress six months before they take effect, increase the notification period for public participation and effective dates of rules, and expand where legal actions can be filed. Agencies must also publish rules online and in the Federal Register within specified timeframes.