Restoring Checks and Balances Act

This bill would make new federal agency rules automatically end five years after they take effect, unless Congress passes a law to renew them. Once a rule ends, the agency cannot bring it back, enforce it, or change it unless Congress has reauthorized it. The Office of Management and Budget (or the agency’s leader) may oversee this process.

If an agency wants a rule to continue, it must send Congress a public report by December 1 of the year before the rule is set to end. The report must explain why the rule should continue, list related rules, and include any recommendations from the relevant committees. Agencies should bundle multiple requests into one report, and they must post these reports on their websites. This bill does not change the normal federal rulemaking laws already on the books.

• Who is affected: Federal agencies that issue new rules after this becomes law
• What changes: New rules expire after five years unless Congress renews them; expired rules can’t be enforced or reissued; oversight by OMB or agency heads; renewal requests must be public and sent by December 1 the year before expiration
• When: Applies to rules issued after the bill becomes law