One third of state administrative rules to be cut or simplified

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Gov. Brad Little’s office is striking while the iron is hot to curb back administrative rules in state departments.

Gov. Brad Little.

In total, Little is proposing cuts or simplifications to 34% of the rules chapters on the books. That’s no small change to an administrative code that contains 736 chapters, 8,278 pages and at least 72,000 total restrictions. With public comment wrapping up on June 11, the office is prepared to move forward on its proposals.

“My administration is working hard to reauthorize the majority of Idaho’s administrative code by July 1,” Little said. “We also identified one-third of the rule chapters to eliminate and simplify. This process is transforming Idaho’s administrative code into a set of regulations that is easier for the public to navigate!”

Little said he never asked for the responsibility to deal with the state’s administrative rules. A task typically reserved for the Idaho Legislature, it nevertheless fell into Little’s lap when lawmakers failed to approve new rules before the end of the 2019 session.

“This effort is transforming Idaho’s Administrative Code into a set of regulations that are simpler and more user-friendly for the public. I want to thank my agency directors and their staff for fast-tracking the rules review process that I started with my executive orders earlier this year,” Little said. “Identifying one-third of rule chapters to cut or simplify in four weeks is no small feat, and the hard work within my administration helps to improve transparency and invigorates public confidence in state government.”