---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 602"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "602"
heading: "Regulatory agenda"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/602"
units:
  - "Part I — The Agencies Generally"
  - "Chapter 6 — The Analysis of Regulatory Functions"
---

# §602. Regulatory agenda

- (a) During the months of October and April of each year, each [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) shall publish in the Federal Register a regulatory flexibility agenda which shall contain—
  - (1) a brief description of the subject area of any rule which the [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) expects to propose or promulgate which is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of [small entities](/usc/5/601.md?p=6);
  - (2) a summary of the nature of any such rule under consideration for each subject area listed in the agenda pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the objectives and legal basis for the issuance of the rule, and an approximate schedule for completing action on any rule for which the [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) has issued a general notice of proposed rulemaking,[^1] and
  - (3) the name and telephone number of an [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) official knowledgeable concerning the items listed in [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
- (b) Each regulatory flexibility agenda shall be transmitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the [Small Business](/usc/5/601.md?p=3) Administration for comment, if any.
- (c) Each [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) shall endeavor to provide notice of each regulatory flexibility agenda to [small entities](/usc/5/601.md?p=6) or their representatives through direct notification or publication of the agenda in publications likely to be obtained by such [small entities](/usc/5/601.md?p=6) and shall invite comments upon each subject area on the agenda.
- (d) Nothing in this section precludes an [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) from considering or acting on any matter not included in a regulatory flexibility agenda, or requires an [agency](/usc/5/601.md?p=1) to consider or act on any matter listed in such agenda.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The comma probably should be a semicolon.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 96–354, § 3(a), Sept. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 1166.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1981, see section 4 of Pub. L. 96–354, set out as a note under section 601 of this title.