Requiring economic impact statements for certain legislative rules
Summary
SB 163 would require economic impact statements to be prepared for certain legislative rules. Based on the bill caption, the measure appears aimed at adding a formal analysis step to the rulemaking process when legislative rules are proposed, likely to assess how those rules would affect the economy, businesses, government, or other affected parties before adoption.
Because the bill text is not available in the provided materials, the precise scope, thresholds, and procedural requirements cannot be confirmed from the source text. However, the title indicates the bill is focused on legislative rules rather than general statutes, suggesting it would affect how agencies and the Legislature evaluate and approve regulations that have broader economic consequences.
Impact
SB 163 would likely amend West Virginia’s legislative rule review framework by requiring an economic impact statement for certain rules before they can move through the approval process. If enacted, it would affect state agencies that draft rules, legislative committees that review them, and potentially regulated businesses, local governments, and the public by adding a formal cost-and-impact analysis requirement to selected rulemakings.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from the legislative record included here. The bill caption suggests a policy approach that is often framed as improving transparency and accountability in rulemaking, which may appeal to lawmakers concerned about regulatory burdens, but the absence of discussion prevents a more specific assessment of sentiment.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is which rules would be covered and how detailed the economic impact statement must be. Supporters would likely favor the bill as a way to better measure regulatory costs and inform legislative decision-making, while opponents may argue it could slow the rulemaking process, add administrative burden, or be used to block needed regulations. Without transcripts, the specific positions of legislators, agencies, or stakeholders cannot be identified from the provided record.