Typically, when Utah lawmakers approve new business regulations, it's state agencies that turn those laws into rules. But a new bill, HB474, could block those rules if they're deemed too costly for businesses to follow.
The proposal from Rep. Ryan Wilcox prohibits state agencies from implementing new regulations if they have a fiscal impact of more than $1 million on a single business or individual over a five-year span. If a rule surpasses that threshold, the agency would have to return to the drawing board.
That’s not all. The bill also empowers individuals to challenge professional licensing regulations. Under Wilcox's proposal, anyone can petition the Utah Office of Professional Licensure Review to repeal or modify a licensing regulation. Once a petition is submitted, the office would have 90 days to either repeal the rule, justify its necessity with a written explanation, or modify it to reduce the burden. It also creates a path for petitioners to challenge the regulation in court if they disagree with the result.
