Iowa Senate Bill SF568

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/11/23

Caption

A bill for an act concerning the rulemaking process for executive branch agencies and related matters and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 1101.)

Impact

If enacted, SF568 would allow for more efficient communication between state agencies and legislative oversight committees. By removing the requirement for agencies to submit printed notices and instead allowing electronic copies, this bill will likely result in a faster and more efficient rulemaking process. Furthermore, the bill mandates that agencies specify versions of standards to be adopted in their regulations, ensuring that changes in regulation are transparent and traceable back to specific publications.

Summary

Senate File 568 seeks to reform the administrative rulemaking process for executive branch agencies in Iowa. The bill introduces amendments to Code chapter 17A, impacting how executive agencies formulate rules and the legislative scrutiny these rules undergo. Key changes include streamlining the process for how notices of intended actions are communicated to legislative members, requiring electronic distributions instead of printed ones, and updating the means of publication for government documents, transitioning to an entirely electronic format for the administrative register.

Contention

Discussion and voting history surrounding SF568 indicate strong bipartisan support, with the vote tally reflecting this consensus as 18 yeas and 0 nays during a committee report. However, some concerns have been raised about the implications of electronic-only access, particularly around the potential for reduced physical access to important regulatory documents for certain populations. Critics of the reliance on digital formats argue that it may disadvantage individuals or groups without reliable internet access. Nevertheless, supporters contend that the move enhances transparency and draws the process into modern conventions.