Major Administrative Rules reforms take effect in Oklahoma

Administrative rules are where the government-law rubber meets real-life road. It's the nitty-gritty detail of how law affects life. In the legislature, administrative rules oversight requires a lot of work and dedication. It's not glamorous or headline/camera catching, but it is absolutely necessary. 

Major Administrative Rules Reforms Take Effect in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 2nd) – The last of four major reforms to Oklahoma’s administrative rulemaking process took effect last month, marking a significant overhaul of the state's regulatory oversight system. Already in effect were three other new laws that strengthen legislative oversight, limit agency overreach and ensure that regulations are grounded in law and subject to greater public accountability.

Administrative rules are the regulations written by state agencies to enforce laws passed by the Legislature and carry the force of law. After being approved by the agency, proposed rules move to the Legislature, but state statute left loopholes that could allow rules to become permanent without a single vote from lawmakers.

Small: Oklahoma needs regulatory reform

Oklahoma needs regulatory reform

By Jonathan Small

A major focus of this year’s legislative session centers on reducing excessive government regulation.

House Bill 2728, by state Rep. Gerrid Kendrix and state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, would create the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025.

Under the bill, any state agency rule with an economic impact of $1 million or more over a five-year period would face extra scrutiny and oversight from the Legislature.

Yet some question why Oklahoma needs this reform. The answer is simple: Because Oklahoma state agencies are as prone to overreach as government agencies in other parts of the country.

House passes administrative rules reform measure; OCPA, AFP-OK praise

House Passes REINS Act

Second House priority bill passes House title-on in first three weeks of session

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 20th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives today passed House Bill 2728, a measure designed to enhance transparency and legislative oversight in the state’s administrative rulemaking process.

House Bill 2728, authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, creates the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation. The bill ensures that state agency regulations receive greater legislative review before taking effect.

Small: REINing in the government Goliath

REINing in the government Goliath

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma state government’s reach may seem insignificant compared to the gargantuan size of the federal government, but Oklahoma government still has tendrils reaching all segments of our economy.

That’s why it is important for Oklahoma lawmakers to restrain government regulation at the state level even as President Trump does the same thing at the federal level.

State House committee approves bill to reform administrative rulemaking

You want to address how government impacts citizens? Take a look at administrative rulemaking - where bureaucracy interprets legislation in the real world.

House Committee Advances Bill to Reform Administrative Rulemaking

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb 4th) – The Oklahoma House Administrative Rules Committee has approved legislation aimed at reforming the state’s administrative rulemaking process—the system through which state agencies implement laws by drafting and proposing regulations.

House Bill 2728, authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, would establish the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation introduced in Congress last year. Kendrix described the REINS Act as a crucial first step toward increasing transparency and oversight in what he referred to as an attempt by the unelected bureaucracy to create an unconstitutional "fourth branch of government."

Small: Proposals could cut red tape in Oklahoma

Proposals could cut red tape in Oklahoma

By Jonathan Small

Despite being a conservative electorate, Oklahomans still face more state regulations than citizens in most other states. The accumulation of those rules impedes economic growth and job creation.

Fortunately, legislative leaders are preparing to tackle this problem.

At a recent meeting jointly led by state Rep. Gerrid Kendrix and state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, who each chair their respective chamber’s administrative rules committee, lawmakers reviewed initiatives that have pared down regulations elsewhere.

Legislators highlight Administrative Rules, Open Meetings Act online portals

Kendrix, Bergstrom Highlight Rules, Open Meetings Act Online Portals

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 28th) – Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, and Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, recently held an interim study examining Oklahoma's current administrative rules process and considering how it could be made more efficient and transparent.

"One of the things we’ve been working on is trying to make this process more transparent, get more people involved in it, make it more accountable not only to us as legislators but also to the public, where more people are aware of the rules process—how it works, the notification process, the public comment process," Kendrix said during the study. "We've been working with the secretary of state on the portal that they have, to try to make that better for everybody involved."

State Sen. Bergstrom leads interim study on Administrative Rules process

An oft-overlooked but vital role for the Oklahoma Legislature is government oversight, especially in the approval or disapproval of administrative rules - how regulations are implemented by government agencies. I'm glad to see this getting some much-needed attention.

Bergstrom Leads Interim Study on Administrative Rules Process

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 23rd) - On Wednesday, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, alongside Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, chaired an interim study with the Administrative Rules Committee to examine the current process agencies use to submit rules and how those rules are reviewed by the committee.

"It's important that we take a close look at each rule to ensure it serves a real purpose and doesn’t create unnecessary burdens,” Bergstrom said. “We also have to consider whether they have negative economic impacts or restrict individual freedoms. Above all, we must ensure they uphold constitutional principles."

Small: Over-regulated in Oklahoma

Over-regulated in Oklahoma

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma is known as a conservative state, but you wouldn’t know it from the number of regulations imposed.

In its “Snapshots of State Regulations” report, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University ranked Oklahoma 17th nationally in the number of regulatory restrictions imposed.

Oklahoma had 142,313 regulations. Idaho, the nation’s least-regulated state, had just 31,497.

Sadly, Oklahoma had more state regulatory restrictions than liberal states such as Minnesota, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Bergstrom files bills to create a pathway to zero income tax, enhance administrative rules oversight

Bergstrom files bill to create a pathway to zero income tax

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 7th) - On Wednesday, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, filed Senate Bill 1228, a measure that would outline a pathway to eliminate the Oklahoma state income tax. This significant proposal aims to alleviate the burden on hardworking Oklahomans and spur economic growth by fostering job creation within small businesses.