Florida lawmakers are taking bold steps to slash excessive regulation with a groundbreaking new bill. The “DOGE-inspired” legislation aims to cut red tape, limit government overreach, and put power back in the hands of businesses and citizens.
DOGE is infectious!
At a Glance
- Florida House Bill 305 aims to cut bureaucratic waste and reduce government overreach
- The bill includes automatic 8-year expiration dates for outdated regulations
- Cost-benefit analysis will be required for all new regulations
- The legislation is inspired by Trump’s vision to reduce government size
- If approved, the bill would take effect July 1, positioning Florida as a leader in regulatory reform
Florida Takes Aim at Bureaucratic Bloat
Florida may already be known as a business-friendly state, but Republican lawmakers are pushing to make it even more attractive to job creators. House Bill 305, sponsored by Rep. Tiffany Esposito and Senate Bill 448, sponsored by Sen. Danny Burgess, seek to dramatically reduce regulatory burdens that are costing businesses billions in lost productivity and compliance costs.
Despite its pro-business reputation, Florida currently ranks as the 11th most heavily regulated state in the nation, with over 170,000 regulatory restrictions. The new legislation aims to modernize the regulatory system, preventing unelected bureaucrats from creating unnecessary hurdles for businesses while maintaining essential protections.
The bill draws inspiration Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was established to identify and eliminate wasteful spending and unnecessary regulations across state agencies. This approach aligns perfectly with President Donald Trump’s longstanding call to reduce government size and refocus on real priorities that benefit American citizens.
“Unnecessary rules cost Florida businesses billions in lost productivity and compliance. This bill moves Florida closer to becoming the nation’s leader in cutting bureaucratic waste,” Jonathan Wolfson, Cicero Institute Policy Director said.
The legislation includes several innovative features to ensure regulations stay relevant and truly necessary. Perhaps most importantly, all rules will automatically expire after eight years unless specifically readopted, preventing outdated regulations from lingering indefinitely in the legal code.
Putting Elected Officials Back in Charge
A key component of the bill is its focus on limiting the power of unelected bureaucrats by requiring explicit statutory authority for any new regulations. This returns power to elected officials who are directly accountable to voters, rather than government employees who face little scrutiny for their decisions.
“The idea is really to put the decision-making ability back into the people who are elected; government should serve the people, not the other way around,” Esposito said.
The bill also emphasizes transparency by requiring regulatory documents to be made publicly available online in machine-readable formats. This will help businesses better understand and comply with necessary regulations while eliminating unnecessary compliance costs.
Sponsors of the bill recognize that Florida’s regulatory framework needs to keep pace with rapidly evolving business practices and technologies. The legislation aims to create a regulatory environment that can adapt to innovations like artificial intelligence without stifling growth.
With Governor Ron DeSantis on his way out, Florida needs a long-lasting solution for identifying and stopping waste and corruption. And this might just be it.
