On Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey signed Executive Order 735. Ivey said that her order delivers on her commitment to making state government work with greater efficiency and accountability for the people of Alabama.
“Sometimes, the best thing government can do is just get out of the way and allow the people to handle their business,” said Governor Ivey. “In many cases, government regulations that were necessary a decade ago have outlived their usefulness, and it’s time for that to change. This order directs state executive branch agencies to find where they can better serve our people, and I look forward to seeing its impact result in positive changes soon.”
Ivey had promised in her State of the State address to issue the executive order.
“During my inaugural address, I promised we would reduce burdens holding back our businesses with the goal of cutting regulations by 25 percent over the next two years,” Ivey told legislators Tuesday night. “I am proud to share with you all that tomorrow, I will sign an executive order to cut red tape so that our businesses are not held back, but can thrive. As I like to say, sometimes the best thing government can do is just get out of the way!”
Ivey said that Executive Order 735 will reduce the “red tape” citizens and businesses must navigate by placing a moratorium on new rulemaking by executive branch agencies and establishing goals for the reduction in discretionary regulatory restrictions on citizens and businesses contained in the Alabama Administrative Code by 25%.
The order will be carried out in three phases over the next two years.
Phase one requires each state executive branch agency to prepare a written inventory of its existing administrative rules. Agencies are ordered to provide this information to the Office of the Governor. Phase one is anticipated to occur between March and September of 2023.
Once that is done, phase two directs each state executive branch agency to develop a written plan to reduce regulatory burdens imposed through its administrative rules and otherwise tighten up its administrative code. Phase two is anticipated to occur between September 2023 and March 2024.
Phase three is when the implementation of each agency’s rule reduction plan will begin. Phase three is anticipated to occur between March 2024 and March 2025.
Each executive branch agency must also designate an existing employee to serve as its Red Tape Reduction Coordinator.
Thursday is day 2 of Alabama’s First 2023 Special Session. Ivey called the special session for the Legislature to appropriate over one billion dollars of American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA) sent to the state by the federal government.
Ivey is the second woman governor in state history. Ivey served two terms as State Treasurer from 2003 to 2011 and was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2010 and 2014. In 2017, Ivey was elevated to Governor when then-Gov. Robert Bentley resigned to avoid impeachment. Ivey was elected to her own term as Governor in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.
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