Omnibus regulatory reform bill gets House panel OK

A House committee on Wednesday approved a wide-ranging measure to reform state regulations and limit the ability of agencies to adopt new rules in the future.

Posted 3:45 p.m. Jul 10, 2013 — Updated 3:45 p.m. Jul 10, 2013

By

Matthew Burns

RALEIGH, N.C. — A House committee on Wednesday approved a wide-ranging measure to reform state regulations and limit the ability of agencies to adopt new rules in the future.

Senate Bill 112 initially covered only environmental regulations, but the House Regulatory Reform Committee amended it to include everything from rules for child care centers to meals at bed-and-breakfast inns to disposition of medical records. House members spent more than half an hour outlining the 32 sections of the new bill.

Rep. Tom Murry, R-Wake, said the state has about 12,000 administrative rules, and lawmakers are trying to cull them, eliminating obsolete regulations.

Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, said lawmakers also plan to study the exemptions some groups have obtained over time to state regulations.

"The direction we want to move into is having an efficient and effective rule-making process but have it done in the sunlight and also have it done and apply to everyone," Moffitt said.

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