Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Agency Accountability and Cost Transparency Act of 2025”.
Agency Accountability and Cost Transparency Act of 2025
A BILL
To require the heads of agencies identify whether major rules of the agency are budget neutral, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Requirement to identify whether major rules are budget neutral
In general— The head of each agency shall—
before promulgating a major rule—
estimate the cost of the rule;
identify whether any rule of the agency may be repealed to offset the cost of the major rule; and
repeal any rule identified under subparagraph (B); and
include a statement along with each major rule published in the Federal Register that identifies whether the rule is budget neutral.
Definitions— In this section:
Agency— The terms “agency” has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
Budget neutral— The term “budget neutral” means that the cost of the rule is equal to the total amount of costs to the public eliminated as a result of the repeal of any rule identified under paragraph (1)(B).
Cost of the rule— The term “cost of the rule” means the cost to the public of the rule, including any cost incurred to understand or implement the rule.
Major rule— The term “major rule” means any rule, including an interim final rule, that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget or the Federal agency promulgating such rule finds has resulted in or is likely to result in—
an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more;
a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions; or
significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets.
Rule— The term “rule” has the meaning given such term in section 551, except that such term—
includes interpretative rules, general statements of policy, and all other agency guidance documents; and
does not include—
any rule of particular applicability, including a rule that approves or prescribes for the future rates, wages, prices, services, or allowances therefore, corporate or financial structures, reorganizations, mergers, or acquisitions thereof, or accounting practices or disclosures bearing on any of the foregoing;
any rule relating to agency management or personnel; or
any rule of agency organization, procedure, or practice that does not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.