The News: The WILL-backed “Red Tape Reset” is one step closer to becoming law after the Wisconsin State Senate voted in favor of the legislative package today. Also supported by a wide coalition of free-market groups and Wisconsin’s largest job creators, these reforms aim to modernize the state’s regulatory system, restore constitutional checks and balances, and spark economic growth.
The Quote: WILL Deputy Counsel, Lucas Vebber, stated, “Wisconsin is currently the 13th most regulated state in the nation — meaning real costs on everyday Wisconsinites who pay for groceries, shop for clothes, or try to start a business. Today, the Senate passed a set of bills to address this crisis, providing more oversight and limiting unnecessary regulations. We are hopeful that the State Assembly will move this legislation forward to protect Wisconsinites from the high costs of unchecked regulations.”
Widespread Public Support: Wisconsinites are overwhelmingly in favor of these reforms. According to polling from the Institute for Reforming Government, 67% of likely Wisconsin voters support requiring legislative review of any regulation that has been in effect for more than seven years.
The Red Tape Reset: The legislative package includes:
- AB 274/ SB 277 – Seven-Year Sunset of Administrative Rules: Requires every state regulation to be reviewed at least once every seven years. Agencies must demonstrate clear statutory authority and continued need. If they cannot, the rule automatically expires. This prevents outdated or unauthorized regulations from remaining on the books and restores meaningful legislative oversight.
- AB 275/ SB 276 – Fee Shifting for Unlawful Rules: Allows citizens who successfully challenge an unlawfully adopted rule to recover attorneys’ fees. This lowers barriers to public oversight and encourages agencies to remain within their legal authority.
- AB 276/ SB 275 – Strengthened Scope Statements: Requires one scope statement per rule and sets a 60-day expiration for emergency rule scope statements. This restores early notice, transparency, and legislative awareness while preventing agencies from stretching a single scope statement across multiple rulemakings.
- AB 277/ SB 289 – Regulatory Budgeting: Requires agencies proposing costly new rules to identify offsetting reductions by modifying or repealing existing rules. If they cannot, the new regulation cannot take effect without an affirmative vote of the Legislature. This ensures that expensive mandates receive direct review by elected officials.
What’s Next: Following today’s successful Senate vote, the Red Tape Reset package moves to the Wisconsin State Assembly for final approval. Once passed by both houses, the bills will head to the Governor’s desk. WILL continues to be a leading advocate for the legislation, and our own research sparked the conversations that led to the Red Tape Reset’s introduction.
Read More:
“Regulatory Reform in Wisconsin: An Opportunity for Greater Economic Growth,” April 2025
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