An Act to amend 227.22 (2) (intro.) and 227.24 (1) (c) of the statutes; Relating to: the effective date of administrative rules and the effective period of emergency rules.
Summary
SB982 would change two parts of Wisconsin’s administrative rulemaking process. First, it would delay the default effective date for permanent administrative rules from the first day of the month after final publication to the first day of the seventh month after publication, unless an agency sets an even later date. Second, it would extend the initial duration of emergency rules from 150 days to 180 days, while still allowing the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) to extend them further.
The bill applies to statutes governing administrative rules, specifically s. 227.22 and s. 227.24, and would affect state agencies that promulgate rules, regulated parties subject to those rules, and the legislative oversight process for emergency rulemaking. Its initial applicability clause limits the change to proposed or emergency rules whose statement of scope is presented for approval on or after the act’s effective date, so it would not retroactively alter all existing rules.
Impact
If enacted, SB982 would lengthen the time before permanent administrative rules become enforceable and would also allow emergency rules to remain in effect 30 days longer before expiring, absent legislative extension. That would slow the implementation of new agency regulations while giving emergency rules a somewhat longer temporary lifespan. The bill amends Wisconsin Statutes sections 227.22(2) and 227.24(1)(c), which are central to the timing and duration of administrative rule effectiveness.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or vote detail, and the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. Based on the text alone, the measure appears to reflect a deregulatory or process-oriented approach that would give agencies and affected stakeholders more time before rules take effect, while also modestly extending emergency rule authority. Because there is no recorded debate in the provided materials, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as procedurally introduced but not advanced to enactment.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be the tradeoff between regulatory delay and administrative flexibility. Supporters would likely view the longer effective date as providing more time for public notice, compliance planning, and legislative review, while opponents could argue that it unnecessarily slows needed regulations and extends the period during which emergency rules can operate without full permanent-rule procedures. The bill’s extension of emergency-rule duration may also raise concerns among those who prefer tighter limits on temporary rulemaking authority.
Crossfiled
An Act to amend 227.22 (2) (intro.) and 227.24 (1) (c) of the statutes; Relating to: the effective date of administrative rules and the effective period of emergency rules.