Nebraskans sent a clear message this election: They want a government that listens, works transparently and represents their interests.

The leaders they have sent to Lincoln can change government for the better by passing the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS), a transformative piece of legislation that will help rein in bureaucracy.

Here’s how it works: If any new state regulation incurs a major economic impact, it must receive legislative approval before taking effect.

In other words, if the state wants to use more of your money or impose new burdens on your business or family, your chosen representatives — not unelected bureaucrats — must do it.

REINS in Nebraska would ensure that voters have a seat at the negotiating table for policies that will have an impact on your life. It would mean your representatives in Lincoln — and not faceless agencies — are accountable for the decisions that affect your family, your business and your wallet.

That sounds like common sense, but it’s not how things currently work.

Too Many Regulations

A recent report from the Mercatus Center found that Nebraska has more than 76,000 restrictions on the books. That’s a lot less than states like California, but we still suffer from more regulations on things like health services and K-12 education than the national average.

Of course, that red tape that makes it harder for your doctor to provide you with care or for your children’s teacher to lead a classroom usually doesn’t come from the people you voted into office. Instead, those rules and restrictions are typically created behind closed doors without real deliberation by unelected bureaucrats.

Bureaucrats aren’t accountable to you through phone calls, public hearings or frequent elections if their decisions make your life worse.

Overregulation isn’t just bad government, though. It’s also bad for business.

Our farmers and ranchers are some of the folks hit hardest by regulatory overreach. A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that family farms can see compliance costs eat up to 7% of their annual sales. Those margins, especially for smaller operations, can mean the difference between thriving and going under.

It’s not just farming, either. Across the board, small businesses in Nebraska face mounting challenges from inflation to labor shortages. So is it any wonder many businesses struggle to stay afloat — and many are never started in the first place — when it costs so much just to comply with the web of state and federal regulations coming out of Lincoln and Washington, D.C.?

Rules Have Costs

And don’t forget: Each new rule doesn’t just create new burdens for Nebraska businesses. They often get passed along as higher prices for consumers and lower wages for workers and their families.

Thankfully, we can do something about it. Passing a REINS Act here in Nebraska would ensure that major regulatory decisions are subject to public debate and approval by elected legislators.

State courts would also have the authority to review whether agency rules are authorized by the Legislature, ensuring that bureaucrats don’t make power grabs under the radar. And in emergency cases, the governor would retain the ability to act swiftly to protect the public if there’s a need for temporary emergency regulation.

This kind of historic reform shouldn’t just appeal to legislators on both sides of the aisle. It also fits perfectly into Gov. Jim Pillen’s vision for Nebraska.

He ran on a promise to ensure that Nebraskans’ voices are heard and that state government would work for the people — not the other way around. The REINS Act represents a perfect opportunity to ensure that kind of accountability for decades to come.

Momentum for this kind of accountability is building. In Kansas, a state-level REINS Act was passed earlier this year, and a recent poll from Americans for Prosperity showed that Nebraska voters, by a large majority, support a REINS-style legislation.

By joining our neighbor in adopting this common-sense approach, Nebraska can lead the way in good governance, setting an example for the rest of the nation. The people of Nebraska voted for an open, responsive government. Our leaders in Lincoln should heed their call and pass the REINS Act.

John Gage is state director at Americans for Prosperity-Nebraska. He has previously served as a communications advisor for numerous public officials and leading conservative organizations. This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/02/08/its-time-to-put-the-reins-on-nebraskas-regulations/

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