Overview

Title

To require the use of artificial intelligence to review agency regulations, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

In a new rule called S. 1110, robots (or AI) are used to check old and not-needed rules every year to help keep things better organized. If the robots find rules that are not helpful anymore, people need to fix or take away those rules quickly.

Summary AI

S. 1110 requires the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to annually review federal regulations to find those that are outdated or redundant. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, alongside the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will oversee this AI-driven review process to ensure it is effective and secure. If a regulation is found to be unnecessary or outdated, it must be updated or removed within 30 days by the responsible agency. This bill aims to streamline the federal regulations by removing or updating rules that are no longer useful.

Published

2025-03-25
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2025-03-25
Package ID: BILLS-119s1110is

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
4
Words:
1,098
Pages:
6
Sentences:
27

Language

Nouns: 316
Verbs: 85
Adjectives: 57
Adverbs: 18
Numbers: 40
Entities: 64

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.43
Average Sentence Length:
40.67
Token Entropy:
4.91
Readability (ARI):
23.25

AnalysisAI

Overview of the Bill

The proposed legislation, known as the "Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Streamline the Code of Federal Regulations Act of 2025," aims to modernize and streamline federal regulations by mandating the use of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the bill, AI will be employed annually to review regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations, identifying those that are redundant or outdated. The identified regulations will then be reviewed by the respective agencies, which must decide whether to update, rescind, or remove them within 30 days. This action will be taken in an expedited manner, amending existing processes under U.S. federal law.

Significant Issues

A primary issue with the bill is its reliance on the terms "redundant" and "outdated," which lack precise definitions. This ambiguity could lead to subjective determinations, potentially resulting in inconsistent evaluations across different agencies. Furthermore, the bill does not provide specifics on how the AI system will be sourced, developed, or overseen, leading to potential concerns about favoritism or conflicts of interest with technology vendors.

Another concern is the tight deadline imposed on agencies, giving them only 30 days to review and act on AI-identified regulations. Such a timeframe might lead to rushed and potentially inadequate decision-making. Additionally, the possibility of utilizing a "Classified Annex" to supplement public disclosures raises transparency issues, as it might withhold critical information from the public.

Moreover, the financial implications of developing and implementing the AI system are not addressed within the bill, posing potential fiscal challenges for agencies without allocated funding. Lastly, the bill heavily relies on agency compliance and judgment, lacking clear oversight mechanisms, which could undermine its effectiveness and accountability.

Impact on the Public and Stakeholders

Broadly, the bill could have far-reaching impacts on how regulations are maintained and enforced. For the general public, streamlining regulations could reduce bureaucratic hurdles and eliminate unnecessary rules, potentially improving efficiency and clarity in government processes. However, the bill's execution may affect how quickly and effectively these changes are realized, depending on the sufficiency of oversight and precision in implementing new regulations.

Specific stakeholders, such as federal agencies, might face increased pressure to comply with the expedited timelines and potentially increased workloads associated with the regulation review process. They may also need to factor in the costs and logistics of adopting AI technologies without additional funding.

Technology vendors and AI developers could experience positive outcomes, as the bill signifies a potential increase in demand for AI solutions tailored to regulatory evaluation. However, without clear procurement guidelines, there may be concerns about how contracts are awarded and the ethics of AI implementation.

In summary, while the bill aims to leverage AI for a more efficient regulatory framework, its success and impact will largely depend on addressing the highlighted issues, particularly concerning definitions, transparency, funding, and oversight.

Issues

  • The reliance on artificial intelligence to evaluate federal regulations without clear definitions of 'redundant' and 'outdated' could lead to subjective interpretations, potentially giving too much discretion to the agencies involved. This issue appears in both Section 2 and Section 3 and could significantly affect the consistency and fairness of regulation evaluations.

  • The lack of specificity about the sourcing, development, and oversight of the artificial intelligence system in Section 3 may lead to favoritism or conflicts of interest with technology vendors, raising both ethical and procurement concerns.

  • The provision in Section 3 allowing agencies just 30 days to review and act on AI-identified regulations may lead to rushed decisions and potentially undermine the quality of the regulatory process.

  • The allowance for a 'Classified Annex' in Section 3 to supplement agency determinations poses a transparency concern, as it may conceal crucial information from public scrutiny, thereby affecting public trust.

  • The potential cost implications of developing and implementing the AI system are unaddressed in Section 3, which could lead to unforeseen financial expenditures for agencies, impacting budget allocations without clear funding sources.

  • Section 4's amendment process could result in the expedited removal of essential regulations without highlighting necessary safeguards or ensuring adequate public input, risking regulatory capture or oversight failures.

  • There is a heavy reliance on agency compliance and judgment throughout the bill, especially in Sections 3 and 4, with insufficient details on oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability and effectiveness of the AI review process.

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 can be referred to as the "Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Streamline the Code of Federal Regulations Act of 2025."

2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

In this section, several terms are defined: agency and regulation use meanings from U.S. Code, while an artificial intelligence system is a machine-based system that makes predictions or decisions. A redundant regulation duplicates another, and an outdated regulation is one that has been replaced by new laws or technology.

3. Annual artificial intelligence review of the code of federal regulations Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section outlines an annual review process where the Office of Management and Budget uses artificial intelligence to identify outdated or redundant regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations. These identified regulations are then sent to the respective agency for a final decision on their relevance, with outdated or redundant regulations being updated, removed, or rescinded within 30 days, and any decisions made are published on the agency's website.

4. Expedited rescission and amendment of redundant and outdated regulations Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section modifies the process for revising regulations by including a new rule that allows the removal of outdated or redundant regulations as determined by an annual review. This review is guided by a new law aimed at using artificial intelligence to simplify the Code of Federal Regulations.