H.R. 1226

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To sunset new Federal regulatory rules after 5 years, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 12, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Stutzman

Table of contents

• H.R. 1226
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Sunset of Federal regulations after 5 years
  • SEC. 3. Submission of request for reauthorization to Congress
  • SEC. 4. Relationship to the administrative procedure
  • SEC. 5. Definitions

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Restoring Checks and Balances Act.

SEC. 2. Sunset of Federal regulations after 5 years

• (a) Sunset
  • Any covered rule issued by an agency after the date of the enactment of this Act shall sunset on the date that is five years after the effective date of such covered rule, unless specifically reauthorized by an Act of Congress.
• (b) After sunset
  • An agency may not reissue, enforce, revise, or take other regulatory action related to a covered rule that has sunset under subsection (a).
• (c) Oversight by OMB and heads of agencies
  • The Director of the Office of Management and Budget or the head of the relevant agency may oversee the sunset of covered rules under subsection (a).

SEC. 3. Submission of request for reauthorization to Congress

• (a) Request for reauthorization
  • If the head of an agency that issues covered rules wants to request a reauthorization for such rules, such head shall, not later than the December 1 that is one year before the date on which the covered rule is scheduled to sunset, submit to Congress and any appropriate committee of Congress a report containing such request that includes—
    • a justification for the reauthorization of each covered rule;
    • any related covered rules; and
    • any recommendation or request made by the chair or ranking member of an appropriate committee of Congress.
• (b) Single submission
  • The head of an agency submitting a request for reauthorization under subsection (a) shall make every effort to bundle multiple requests for reauthorization in a single submission.
• (c) Public availability of reports
  • Any report submitted by the head of an agency under subsection (a) shall be published on the public website of the agency.

SEC. 4. Relationship to the administrative procedure

• Nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede the provisions of chapter 5, 6, or 7 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 5. Definitions

• In this Act:
  • The term agency has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
  • The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget.
  • The term covered rule,rule has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, but does not include a rule—
  • The term sunset means to have no force or effect.