Recent News
Despite past success in passing sunset laws—16 states currently have a limited regulatory sunset requirement and six states have a comprehensive regulatory sunset requirement—the most recent sunset law was passed a decade ago when West Virginia passed a law in 2016. Last year three states made strong efforts to pass such laws, but all fell short.
The full report provides model legislation, success stories, and additional resources to equip reform-minded policymakers.
States can pursue various options to reduce regulatory burdens and provide much-needed accountability and transparency to the regulatory process.
In 2025, Americans for Prosperity helped four state legislatures pass bills ending judicial deference: Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Texas. This year, AFP continued building on this successful effort, with four more states ending judicial deference and a two other states coming oh-so close.
2026 saw several states act to protect their citizens and businesses from overregulation and return power to their legislative branches.
The takeaway from 2026 is clear: the push for guidance transparency is no longer limited to executive orders, it has entered the legislative mainstream.
On Friday, Oklahoma took a major step toward regulatory transparency by enacting the Guidance Transparency Act, a new law requiring state agencies to submit state and federal guidance documents to the Secretary of State for proactive publication online. Oklahoma is the first state in the nation to require guidance transparency by law.
At a time when many Americans are skeptical of government effectiveness, ORM offers a rare example of reform that delivers tangible results. Virginia should not only continue this office, but rather Virginia, Congress, and the entire country should adopt and build on its success and reaffirm the type of accountable governance envisioned by our Founding Fathers.
On March 12, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed into law a bill to move legislative rule-making powers back towards its proper place in the Legislative Branch.
