Texas DOGE Bill Passes Senate to Streamline State Regulations

Texas has taken another bold step in governance by passing Senate Bill 14, which aims to create the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office. This new office, inspired by the federal Department of Government Efficiency introduced by former President Donald Trump, promises to streamline state regulations, cut unnecessary rules, and significantly reduce the size of Texas's government.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, ever the proponent of minimal government interference, stated, "I prioritized SB 14 because President Trump’s creation of the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ inspired me to find ways Texas can save taxpayers and businesses money by cutting burdensome regulations." He added that Texas's economic success, often dubbed the "Texas Miracle," would continue to thrive under this conservative approach.

The bill proposes the establishment of a regulatory efficiency advisory panel that will collaborate with the governor's office and the Efficiency Office. This panel will include representatives from regulated businesses, the general public, occupational license holders, higher education, and state agencies—a bit of everybody to ensure no one’s left out in the red tape slashing.

To foster transparency, SB 14 will also introduce an interactive website where citizens can access information on state agency rules categorized by topic, activity, or NAICS code. This move is aimed at making regulatory information more accessible and user-friendly—finally, a government website you might actually want to visit.

The Efficiency Office will be required to submit a biennial report to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board detailing its activities, findings, and recommendations. Lt. Gov. Patrick emphasized that this bill is not just about cutting rules but about putting money back into taxpayers' pockets, stating, "The Texas economy is the envy of America and the world. Texans understand that by cutting red tape, more money stays in the pockets of taxpayers." Bold claim, but given Texas's economic track record, it’s not entirely off the mark.

Now, the bill is headed to the House committee before being voted on by the Texas House of Representatives. If passed, it could set a precedent for other states looking to simplify their regulatory frameworks.