WI SB979

Lowers the cost threshold for halting administrative rulemaking from $10,000,000 to $4,000,000 in implementation and compliance costs expected to be passed along to businesses, local governments, and individuals over any 2-year period.

Prohibits agencies from splitting rules into multiple or separate rules to avoid the cost threshold, including rules with similar standards or serial/interdependent rules on the same subject that could have been a single rule.

Requires agencies exceeding the $4,000,000 threshold to stop work on the proposed rule until they either modify it to reduce costs below the threshold or the legislature enacts a bill authorizing the rule.

Adds violation of the rule-splitting prohibition as grounds for courts to declare an administrative rule invalid during judicial review.

Applies to proposed rules whose statement of scope is presented for approval on or after the effective date of the act.