Ivey signs order targeting state regulatory restrictions

Evan Mealins, Montgomery Advertiser
·1 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed an executive order Wednesday morning aimed at reducing regulatory restrictions the executive branch places on citizens and businesses.

Ivey's order does two things: It prohibits all state executive branch agencies from creating or changing administrative rules for two years, and it establishes a two-year process for those agencies to inventory and eliminate some of their administrative rules.

Ivey said during her State of the State address Tuesday night that her goal was to reduce the number of regulatory restrictions on citizens and businesses by 25%.

There are exceptions to the moratorium on new administrative rules. Executive branch agencies can still adopt or amend new rules if notice of the action had been given before Wednesday, or if the new rule or rule change would reduce regulatory burdens, create jobs, protect public health or safety, or is necessary to comply with a court order or federal law.

The process for eliminating existing administrative rules has three phases.

Gov. Kay Ivey speaks during the State of the State address at the Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Gov. Kay Ivey speaks during the State of the State address at the Alabama State Capitol Building in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

In the first, all agencies have to prepare an inventory of their administrative rules, identify ones that place restrictions on citizens and businesses, and determine which of those restrictions were discretionary. Phase one is expected to last until September.

The second phase will be when agencies come up with a plan to eliminate those discretionary regulatory restrictions on citizens and businesses. Phase two is expected to last from September 2023 to May 2024.

During the third phase, agencies are expected to carry out the plan created in the second phase. Phase three is expected to last from May 2024 to May 2025.

Agencies also have to designate an employee as its "Red Tape Reduction Coordinator" by May 1.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanMealins.

Your subscription makes our journalism possible. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Ivey signs order targeting state regulatory restrictions