Madison, WI — State Senator Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) and Representative Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) announced new legislation today that advances Wisconsin’s commitment to government accountability and regulatory reform. The bill, part of the broader Red Tape Reset initiative, clarifies the use of scope statements in administrative rulemaking, enhancing public transparency while holding unelected bureaucrats accountable.
Scope statements are the first formal step in the state’s rulemaking process. They outline a proposed rule’s purpose, legal authority, resource needs, and impact. However, current law contains a loophole that allows agencies to issue both emergency and permanent rules—or multiple rules over time—under a single scope statement. This practice has reduced public input and blurred the lines between emergency and long-term regulation.
The new legislation puts a stop to that. It requires agencies to specify whether a scope statement is for an emergency or permanent rule and limits them to one rule per statement. It also imposes a six-month expiration for emergency rule scope statements, reinforcing their temporary nature.
“We’re restoring integrity to the rulemaking process,” said Senator Hutton. “One rule per scope statement is a simple, common-sense reform that ensures transparency, encourages public participation, and prevents bureaucrats from stretching vague language into sweeping regulation.”
Representative Knodl echoed those sentiments: “This bill is about good governance. It strengthens oversight and ensures our administrative process reflects the voice of the people—not just unelected regulators.”
The bill comes at a critical time. A recent report by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) found Wisconsin is the 13th most regulated state in the country—and the second most regulated in the Midwest. With over 165,000 regulatory restrictions, Wisconsin is saddled with more than five times the number of restrictions than Idaho, the least regulated state. WILL estimates that reducing red tape by just 10% over three years could grow Wisconsin’s GDP by $6.6 billion by 2037. A 40% reduction could deliver more than $68 billion in economic growth.
“While reform-minded states like Idaho and Ohio are slashing red tape, Wisconsin’s regulatory code has continued to grow,” stated Knodl.
Hutton added, “We need to reverse course—and this bill is a step in the right direction.”
The legislation preserves essential safeguards while enhancing clarity, predictability, and public accountability in agency rulemaking. Permanent rules will still undergo legislative review, public hearings, and economic analysis—while emergency rules, often issued without those checks, will now be constrained by time and scope.
