U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer Introduces ALERT Act to Enhance Federal Regulatory Transparency
Bill would require monthly online updates, regulation changes be publicly accessible within 30 days
U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-AL6) has introduced the All Economic Regulations are Transparent (ALERT) Act, aiming to increase transparency in federal rulemaking processes. The proposed legislation mandates that federal agencies provide monthly updates on their regulatory plans to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). These updates, detailing both regulatory and deregulatory actions, would be published online and made accessible to the public within 30 days.
A key provision of the ALERT Act is the requirement that any new rule must have been publicly available online for at least six months before it can be enacted. Additionally, the bill obligates OIRA to publish an annual report outlining the costs and benefits of all new agency rules.
In a statement regarding the bill, Rep. Palmer expressed concern over the current lack of transparency:
“For far too long, American businesses have been kept in the dark regarding government agency rules and regulations. This is unacceptable,” said Rep. Palmer. “Regulations can change the financial plans and general operations of businesses, so it is vital business owners are promptly made aware when new regulations are planned and how much they are expected to cost.”
The ALERT Act is part of Rep. Palmer's broader initiative to enhance accountability and transparency within federal agencies. The bill has been referred to the appropriate House committee for further consideration.
The ALERT Act has a history going back at least to 2015, when the House Judiciary Committee approved a version of the Act. In 2023, the Act was endorsed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, which pointed out in a commentary on the then-current version of the Act that:
“The twice-yearly Unified Agenda, which lists each agency’s upcoming regulations, is nearly always published months late. One edition during the Obama administration was never published at all. OIRA’s legally required annual Report to Congress on costs and benefits hasn’t been published since 2020.
“A monthly digest like the ALERT Act requires would give the public a more frequent and a more thorough look at agency activity. And if agencies or OIRA fall behind, their transparency lapses would be easier to see.”
With Republicans in control of both Houses of Congress and President Trump’s administration actively working to cut waste, fraud and abuse and increasing government transparency, supporters of the ALERT Act have reason to be optimistic about the bill’s chances.
