WI AB277

Lowers the threshold for halting administrative rulemaking from $10 million in implementation and compliance costs to any amount of net costs to businesses, local governments, and individuals over a two-year period

Requires agencies to stop work on proposed rules with any net costs unless they: (1) eliminate the costs, (2) obtain legislative authorization through enacted legislation, or (3) offset costs by promulgating another cost-reducing rule in the same calendar year

Mandates that economic impact analyses include both costs and cost savings, broken down by type of affected entity (businesses, local governments, individuals), with totals expressed as a single net dollar figure

Requires costs to be attributed to the proposed rule regardless of whether they stem from underlying statutes, federal law requirements, or other factors limiting agency discretion

Exemptions remain for emergency rules and certain DNR air quality rules required under federal law; applies to rules whose scope statements are submitted for approval after the effective date