🔴Relating to reforming the procedure by which state agencies adopt rules and impose regulatory requirements and the deference given to the interpretation of laws and rules by state agencies in certain judicial proceedings.

🔴 SB 14: The Governor’s New Power Over Texas Regulations

What it says it does:
SB 14 is promoted as a regulatory reform bill. It claims to make agency rules easier to understand, reduce unnecessary red tape, and create a public website where Texans can see what regulations apply to their industries.

What it actually changes:
It creates the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office inside the Governor’s Office, shifts rulemaking oversight away from independent agencies, and lets courts ignore agency expertise when reviewing regulations. It also allows rules to be struck down if agencies miss new paperwork or analysis steps.

Who is pushing for it:
Sen. Phil King authored the bill. Witness lists show strong support from business-aligned groups including the Texas Association of Business, Texas Association of Builders, Greater Houston Partnership, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, NFIB, Americans for Prosperity, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Who benefits:
Large industries and lobby groups that want fewer limits on their operations gain new ways to challenge or overturn rules. The Governor’s Office gains centralized control over what regulations get reviewed or repealed. Technology contractors may profit from building and maintaining the new rule portal.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Agencies lose autonomy, making it harder to defend public protections. Communities that depend on environmental, safety, or consumer regulations have less say. Taxpayers fund a new bureaucracy that mainly serves business interests.

Why this matters long term:
SB 14 sets a precedent for shifting rulemaking power from agencies to the Governor. It creates a template for deregulation and gives well-funded industries more leverage to weaken protections through litigation.

What to watch next:
Future sessions may expand this framework to other sectors, from education to infrastructure. Watch how the new office decides which rules to target and whether the portal becomes a tool for transparency or control.

Bottom line:
SB 14 claims to promote efficiency but instead concentrates power in the Governor’s Office. It weakens public oversight, reduces agency independence, and gives industry lobbyists more control over which protections survive.

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