PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 3, 2025
Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2025
This bill revises provisions relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking.
Specifically, the bill establishes a congressional approval process for a major rule. A major rule may only take effect if Congress approves of the rule. A major rule is a rule that has resulted in or is likely to result in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.
The bill generally preserves the current congressional review process for a nonmajor rule.
People & committees
Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3] · R–FL
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Sep 19, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-01-03 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This bill would require approval legislation before most major federal agency rules could take effect, including rules with an annual economic effect of at least $100 million. It would affect agencies and the people, businesses, and governments covered by their rules. Agencies would have to disclose supporting information, while Congress would have procedures to approve major rules or disapprove other covered rules. Temporary presidential authority and subject-specific exceptions would qualify these requirements.
A major rule shall not take effect unless the Congress enacts a joint resolution of approval described under section 802.
(A) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (B) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions;
the Federal agency promulgating such rule shall publish in the Federal Register a list of information on which the rule is based
That Congress disapproves the nonmajor rule submitted by the ___ relating to ___ , and such rule shall have no force or effect.
a major rule may take effect for one 90-calendar-day period if the President makes a determination under paragraph (2) and submits written notice of such determination to the Congress.
Nothing in this chapter shall apply to rules that concern monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee.
Section 1 names the proposal the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2025. Section 2 states its purpose as greater accountability and transparency in federal rulemaking; those are declared goals, not demonstrated results.
This Act may be cited as the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2025.
The purpose of this Act is to increase accountability for and transparency in the Federal regulatory process.
Section 3 would replace the federal statutory chapter on congressional review of agency rules. A rule, including an interim final rule, would count as major if the federal regulatory review administrator finds an actual or likely annual economic effect of at least $100 million, a major cost or price increase, or significant adverse effects on the listed economic activities. Other covered rules would be nonmajor.
Chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
The term major rule means any rule, including an interim final rule, that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget finds has resulted in or is likely to result in— (A) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (B) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions; or (C) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets.
The term nonmajor rule means any rule that is not a major rule.
The proposed review system would exclude rules of particular applicability, such as specified rate or corporate transaction decisions; rules about agency management or personnel; and internal organizational or procedural rules that do not substantially affect outsiders' rights or obligations.
The term rule has the meaning given such term in section 551, except that such term does not include— (A) any rule of particular applicability, including a rule that approves or prescribes for the future rates, wages, prices, services, or allowances therefore, corporate or financial structures, reorganizations, mergers, or acquisitions thereof, or accounting practices or disclosures bearing on any of the foregoing; (B) any rule relating to agency management or personnel; or (C) any rule of agency organization, procedure, or practice that does not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.
Before a covered rule could take effect under the general procedure, its agency would have to publish a list of supporting information and explain how to access it online. The agency would also have to send both chambers of Congress and the Comptroller General the rule, a summary, its classification and justification, related regulatory actions and their individual and combined economic effects, and the proposed effective date.
Before a rule may take effect, the Federal agency promulgating such rule shall publish in the Federal Register a list of information on which the rule is based, including data, scientific and economic studies, and cost-benefit analyses, and identify how the public can access such information online, and shall submit to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General a report containing— (i) a copy of the rule; (ii) a concise general statement relating to the rule; (iii) a classification of the rule as a major or nonmajor rule, including an explanation of the classification specifically addressing each criteria for a major rule contained within subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 804(2); (iv) a list of any other related regulatory actions intended to implement the same statutory provision or regulatory objective as well as the individual and aggregate economic effects of those actions; and (v) the proposed effective date of the rule.
On the same submission date, agencies would have to provide any cost-benefit analysis, including jobs added or lost with public and private jobs distinguished. They would also have to provide information about compliance with specified statutory provisions and other relevant laws and executive orders. Congress would distribute the rule report to the leaders of the relevant committees.
On the date of the submission of the report under subparagraph (A), the Federal agency promulgating the rule shall submit to the Comptroller General and make available to each House of Congress— (i) a complete copy of the cost-benefit analysis of the rule, if any, including an analysis of any jobs added or lost, differentiating between public and private sector jobs; (ii) the agency’s actions pursuant to sections 603, 604, 605, 607, and 609 of this title; (iii) the agency’s actions pursuant to sections 202, 203, 204, and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995; and (iv) any other relevant information or requirements under any other Act and any relevant Executive orders.
each House shall provide copies of the report to the chairman and ranking member of each standing committee with jurisdiction
For each major rule, the Comptroller General would have 15 calendar days after Congress receives the report to assess the agency's procedural compliance and whether the rule imposes new limits or mandates on private activity. Agencies would have to supply relevant information.
The Comptroller General shall provide a report on each major rule to the committees of jurisdiction by the end of 15 calendar days after the submission or publication date. The report of the Comptroller General shall include an assessment of the agency’s compliance with procedural steps required by paragraph (1)(B) and an assessment of whether the major rule imposes any new limits or mandates on private-sector activity.
Federal agencies shall cooperate with the Comptroller General by providing information relevant to the Comptroller General’s report under subparagraph (A).
in the case of a major rule, the date on which the Congress receives the report submitted under section 801(a)(1)
Under the general approval requirement, a major rule would take effect only after a joint resolution approving it becomes law, and no earlier than any later effective date provided by the rule. A vote alone would not satisfy the requirement to enact approval legislation.
A major rule relating to a report submitted under paragraph (1) shall take effect upon enactment of a joint resolution of approval described in section 802 or as provided for in the rule following enactment of a joint resolution of approval described in section 802, whichever is later.
A major rule shall not take effect unless the Congress enacts a joint resolution of approval described under section 802.
If approval legislation were not enacted within 70 Senate session days or House legislative days, as applicable, after Congress receives the report, the major rule would be treated as unapproved and could not take effect under that approval process. Days when either chamber is adjourned for more than three days would be excluded. Neither chamber could reconsider approval of the same rule under this chapter during the same Congress.
If a joint resolution described in subsection (a) is not enacted into law by the end of 70 session days or legislative days, as applicable, beginning on the date on which the report referred to in subsection (a)(1)(A) is received by Congress (excluding days either House of Congress is adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Congress), then the rule described in that resolution shall be deemed not to be approved and such rule shall not take effect.
If a joint resolution of approval relating to a major rule is not enacted within the period provided in subsection (b)(2), then a joint resolution of approval relating to the same rule may not be considered under this chapter in the same Congress by either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
The President could allow a major rule to operate for one 90-calendar-day period by executive order and written notice to Congress. The determination would have to concern an imminent health or safety threat or other emergency, criminal-law enforcement, national security, or a rule issued under a statute implementing an international trade agreement. This temporary authority would not change Congress's approval procedures.
a major rule may take effect for one 90-calendar-day period if the President makes a determination under paragraph (2) and submits written notice of such determination to the Congress.
a determination made by the President by Executive order that the major rule should take effect because such rule is— (A) necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency; (B) necessary for the enforcement of criminal laws; (C) necessary for national security; or (D) issued pursuant to any statute implementing an international trade agreement.
An exercise by the President of the authority under this subsection shall have no effect on the procedures under section 802.
Rules reported near the end of a congressional session would receive another review opportunity in the next session. The window would begin 60 Senate session days or House legislative days before scheduled adjournment and run through the next session's first meeting. For that additional review, publication and submission would be treated as occurring on the next session's 15th session or legislative day; ordinary reporting and effective-date requirements would still apply.
in the case of any rule for which a report was submitted in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A) during the period beginning on the date occurring— (A) in the case of the Senate, 60 session days; or (B) in the case of the House of Representatives, 60 legislative days, before the date the Congress is scheduled to adjourn a session of Congress through the date on which the same or succeeding Congress first convenes its next session, sections 802 and 803 shall apply to such rule in the succeeding session of Congress.
such rule were published in the Federal Register on— (I) in the case of the Senate, the 15th session day; or (II) in the case of the House of Representatives, the 15th legislative day, after the succeeding session of Congress first convenes; and (ii) a report on such rule were submitted to Congress under subsection (a)(1) on such date.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to affect the requirement under subsection (a)(1) that a report shall be submitted to Congress before a rule can take effect.
A rule described under paragraph (1) shall take effect as otherwise provided by law (including other subsections of this section).
After receiving a major-rule report, each chamber's majority leader or designee would have to introduce an approval resolution within three House legislative days or Senate session days. The resolution would use prescribed wording, contain no preamble, go to the relevant committees, and could not be amended.
(A) bears no preamble; (B) bears the following title (with blanks filled as appropriate): Approving the rule submitted by ___ relating to ___.; (C) includes after its resolving clause only the following (with blanks filled as appropriate): That Congress approves the rule submitted by ___ relating to ___.
the majority leader of that House (or his or her respective designee) shall introduce (by request, if appropriate) a joint resolution described in paragraph (1)— (A) in the case of the House of Representatives, within 3 legislative days; and (B) in the case of the Senate, within 3 session days.
A joint resolution described in paragraph (1) shall not be subject to amendment at any stage of proceeding.
A joint resolution described in subsection (a) shall be referred in each House of Congress to the committees having jurisdiction over the provision of law under which the rule is issued.
In the Senate, an approval resolution would automatically leave committee after 15 session days without a report. A final vote would be required within 15 session days after committee reporting or release. Debate would be limited to two hours, divided equally between supporters and opponents, with amendments and specified delaying motions barred.
if the committee or committees to which a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has been referred have not reported it at the end of 15 session days after its introduction, such committee or committees shall be automatically discharged from further consideration of the resolution and it shall be placed on the calendar. A vote on final passage of the resolution shall be taken on or before the close of the 15th session day after the resolution is reported by the committee or committees to which it was referred, or after such committee or committees have been discharged from further consideration of the resolution.
debate on the joint resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the joint resolution.
An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the joint resolution is not in order.
In the House, an approval resolution would leave a committee that had not reported it within 15 legislative days. After at least five legislative days on the calendar, a supporter could be recognized to bring it up on the second or fourth Thursday of a month. Debate would last one hour, equally divided; a vote would be required by the third eligible Thursday.
if any committee to which a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has been referred has not reported it to the House at the end of 15 legislative days after its introduction, such committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution, and it shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
On the second and fourth Thursdays of each month it shall be in order at any time for the Speaker to recognize a Member who favors passage of a joint resolution that has appeared on the calendar for at least 5 legislative days to call up that joint resolution for immediate consideration in the House without intervention of any point of order.
shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent
If a vote on final passage of the joint resolution has not been taken by the third Thursday on which the Speaker may recognize a Member under this subsection, such vote shall be taken on that day.
An identical approval resolution received from the other chamber would generally replace a chamber's own resolution at the final vote without another committee referral. That coordination rule would not apply in the House to a Senate revenue measure. If either chamber had not voted by the approval window's last day, it would have to vote that day.
If, before passing a joint resolution described in subsection (a), one House receives from the other a joint resolution having the same text, then— (A) the joint resolution of the other House shall not be referred to a committee; and (B) the procedure in the receiving House shall be the same as if no joint resolution had been received from the other House until the vote on passage, when the joint resolution received from the other House shall supplant the joint resolution of the receiving House.
This subsection shall not apply to the House of Representatives if the joint resolution received from the Senate is a revenue measure.
If either House has not taken a vote on final passage of the joint resolution by the last day of the period described in section 801(b)(2), then such vote shall be taken on that day.
The approval and disapproval procedures would operate as rules of each chamber. The bill expressly recognizes that either chamber could later change its own procedures.
This section and section 803 are enacted by Congress— (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such are deemed to be part of the rules of each House
with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the procedure of that House) at any time
Nonmajor rules would follow a disapproval process after submission to Congress. A qualifying disapproval resolution would have to be introduced within 60 days after Congress receives the report, excluding days when either chamber is adjourned for more than three days. Its prescribed wording would declare the rule to have no force or effect.
A nonmajor rule shall take effect as provided by section 803 after submission to Congress under paragraph (1).
a joint resolution introduced in the period beginning on the date on which the report referred to in section 801(a)(1)(A) is received by Congress and ending 60 days thereafter (excluding days either House of Congress is adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Congress), the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: That Congress disapproves the nonmajor rule submitted by the ___ relating to ___ , and such rule shall have no force or effect.
For a nonmajor-rule disapproval resolution, 30 senators could sign a petition to release it from committee after 15 session days without a report. Senate debate would be limited to 10 hours, equally divided. Amendments and specified delaying motions would be barred.
if the committee to which is referred a joint resolution described in subsection (a) has not reported such joint resolution (or an identical joint resolution) at the end of 15 session days after the date of introduction of the joint resolution, such committee may be discharged from further consideration of such joint resolution upon a petition supported in writing by 30 Members of the Senate
debate on the joint resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the joint resolution.
An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the joint resolution is not in order.
The special Senate procedures for nonmajor-rule disapproval would generally expire after 60 session days from the later of congressional receipt or Federal Register publication, if published. For rules receiving additional review across sessions, the 60-session-day clock would start on the next session's 15th session day.
the procedure specified in subsection (c) or (d) shall not apply to the consideration of a joint resolution respecting a nonmajor rule— (1) after the expiration of the 60 session days beginning with the applicable submission or publication date; or (2) if the report under section 801(a)(1)(A) was submitted during the period referred to in section 801(d)(1), after the expiration of the 60 session days beginning on the 15th session day after the succeeding session of Congress first convenes.
in the case of a nonmajor rule, the later of— (i) the date on which the Congress receives the report submitted under section 801(a)(1); and (ii) the date on which the nonmajor rule is published in the Federal Register, if so published.
The bill would generally bar court review of determinations, actions, and omissions under this chapter. It would expressly allow a court to decide whether an agency completed the requirements necessary for a rule to take effect.
No determination, finding, action, or omission under this chapter shall be subject to judicial review.
Notwithstanding subsection (a), a court may determine whether a Federal agency has completed the necessary requirements under this chapter for a rule to take effect.
Congressional approval would not give an agency new rulemaking authority or change its existing authority, and would not eliminate legal challenges to defects in a rule. Approval could enter the court record only to determine whether the rule is in effect.
The enactment of a joint resolution of approval under section 802 shall not be interpreted to serve as a grant or modification of statutory authority by Congress for the promulgation of a rule, shall not extinguish or affect any claim, whether substantive or procedural, against any alleged defect in a rule, and shall not form part of the record before the court in any judicial proceeding concerning a rule except for purposes of determining whether or not the rule is in effect.
Rules concerning monetary policy—the management of money and credit conditions—proposed or implemented by the Federal Reserve Board or Federal Open Market Committee would be exempt from the entire chapter.
Nothing in this chapter shall apply to rules that concern monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee.
Despite the general review requirements in proposed section 801, agencies could set effective dates for rules governing commercial, recreational, or subsistence hunting, fishing, or camping programs. Agencies could also set effective dates for nonmajor rules when they include a good-cause finding and brief explanation that public notice and procedure would be impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.
Notwithstanding section 801— (1) any rule that establishes, modifies, opens, closes, or conducts a regulatory program for a commercial, recreational, or subsistence activity related to hunting, fishing, or camping; or (2) any rule other than a major rule which an agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefore in the rule issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, shall take effect at such time as the Federal agency promulgating the rule determines.
Section 4 would add a budget calculation instruction: rules subject to congressional approval that affect authority to incur spending obligations, actual spending, or government receipts would be assumed effective unless they are not approved under the specified procedure.
Section 257(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 907(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
Any rule subject to the congressional approval procedure set forth in section 802 of chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, affecting budget authority, outlays, or receipts shall be assumed to be effective unless it is not approved in accordance with such section.
Section 5 would require the Comptroller General to count all rules and major rules in effect on the enactment date and estimate their total economic cost. A report to Congress would be due within one year after enactment.
The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to determine, as of the date of the enactment of this Act— (1) how many rules (as such term is defined in section 804 of title 5, United States Code) were in effect; (2) how many major rules (as such term is defined in section 804 of title 5, United States Code) were in effect; and (3) the total estimated economic cost imposed by all such rules.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that contains the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated September 19, 2026, records introduction in the House on January 3, 2025, and referral that day to the Judiciary, Rules, and Budget Committees for matters within their respective jurisdictions.
Source snapshot updated 2026-09-19T23:07:46Z.
2025-01-03: Introduced in House
2025-01-03: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-01-03. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No provision unrelated to federal rule review was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish attachment history or the contents of other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; accompanying earmark materials were not supplied.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The supplied text contains subject-specific exemptions from its general review framework. These are narrow policy exceptions, not findings of financial gain or improper favoritism.
The Federal Reserve Board and Federal Open Market Committee would receive a complete exemption from this review chapter for their monetary-policy rules. The exception preserves special treatment for that defined policy function within the broader agency-review system.
Nothing in this chapter shall apply to rules that concern monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee.
Agencies administering hunting, fishing, and camping programs would receive special authority to set their rules' effective dates despite section 801. This exception covers commercial, recreational, and subsistence activities and is not limited to nonmajor rules. It does not establish that affected participants would receive an economic benefit.
Notwithstanding section 801— (1) any rule that establishes, modifies, opens, closes, or conducts a regulatory program for a commercial, recreational, or subsistence activity related to hunting, fishing, or camping; or (2) any rule other than a major rule which an agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefore in the rule issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, shall take effect at such time as the Federal agency promulgating the rule determines.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Sep 19, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI