Assembly Action Expected Tomorrow
Madison: The Wisconsin State Senate today passed the “Red Tape Reset” legislative package, a series of four reforms designed to right-size Wisconsin’s regulatory environment, reduce costs, and expand opportunity for families and job creators across the state.
The bills target the state’s growing regulatory burden that is making it harder for families to make ends meet, small businesses to grow, and communities to attract investment. Wisconsin is currently the 13th most regulated state in the nation, with more than 165,000 regulatory restrictions on the books.
“People who work hard and try to play by the rules should be able to get ahead,” said Sen. Bradley (R–New Berlin), lead author of one the bills. “Because of red tape, that’s simply not the case for many. A young entrepreneur with a great idea shouldn’t be buried under layers of bureaucracy before they even get started.”
Here’s what the bills do to roll back the state’s regulatory burden.
- Keep Wisconsin’s code modern by sunsetting outdated regulations every seven years.
- Require agencies to offset new regulations by eliminating existing ones with equal or greater cost.
- Limit one rule per scope statement, ending bureaucratic games that hide new mandates.
- Reimburse citizens who successfully challenge unconstitutional or unlawful rules.
Research shows the stakes are significant. A study found that reducing red tape by just 10 percent could add an estimated $6.6 billion to Wisconsin’s GDP by 2037, driving job creation and economic growth across the state.
“Today’s Senate vote is an important step for Wisconsin,” Bradley added. “I know that we can protect the public while also making it easier to live, work, and build a future here.”
Momentum for the reforms in the Red Tape Reset continues to build, with a vote in the Assembly already scheduled for tomorrow.
