Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Streamline the Code of Federal Regulations Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 1110
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-10T00:09:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to modernize the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)—the compilation of all federal rules—by mandating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and eliminate redundant (duplicative or overlapping) or outdated (superseded by new laws or technology) regulations. This is intended to streamline federal oversight, reduce unnecessary rules, and improve efficiency without losing essential protections.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "agency" (federal executive departments and similar bodies), "artificial intelligence system" (machine-based tools that generate outputs like decisions from inputs), "redundant" (rules that duplicate others without adding value), "regulation" (federal rules), and "outdated" (rules no longer applicable due to changes in law or technology).
- Annual AI Review Process (Section 3):
- The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), must implement an AI-based process within 90 days of enactment and run it annually to scan the CFR for redundant or outdated regulations.
- The AI system must meet NIST standards for accuracy, transparency, accountability, and national security.
- OMB and NIST must review and update the process yearly to ensure it works efficiently and the AI remains compliant.
- Identified regulations are referred to the responsible agency, which has 30 days to determine if they are redundant or outdated (this decision is final).
- Agencies must rescind redundant regulations or amend/rescind outdated ones within 30 days, bypassing standard public notice and comment requirements.
- Determinations must be published on the agency's website with a brief explanation; a classified supplement can be sent to Congress if needed.
- Expedited Procedures (Section 4): Amends the Administrative Procedure Act (APA, the law governing how agencies make rules) to exempt these AI-identified changes from public notice and comment periods.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces mandatory AI use for regulatory reviews, which is new and not previously required.
- Overrides parts of the APA (5 U.S.C. § 553), which normally requires agencies to publish proposed rule changes and allow public input before finalizing them. This creates an exception for AI-flagged redundant or outdated rules, allowing faster action without public comment.
- Requires annual, systematic CFR reviews, shifting from ad-hoc efforts to a structured, technology-driven process.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Agencies will face quicker timelines for reviewing and updating rules, potentially reducing administrative burdens but increasing workload for AI implementation and determinations. OMB and NIST gain new oversight roles.
- Citizens and Businesses: Could simplify compliance by removing duplicative or obsolete rules, lowering costs and confusion. However, faster changes without public input might lead to unintended gaps in protections (e.g., environmental or safety standards).
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though streamlined U.S. regulations could indirectly affect trade or global standards if rules on imports/exports are updated.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primary implementers, responsible for reviews, determinations, and rule changes.
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Lead the AI process and ensure its standards.
- Congress: Receives reports and classified annexes; can oversee via committees like Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Businesses, Industry Groups, and the Public: Benefit from or are impacted by reduced regulatory overlap, but may lose input opportunities on changes.
- AI Developers and Tech Sector: Involved in building compliant AI systems for government use.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Challenges the balance of the APA by limiting public participation in rulemaking, potentially raising due process concerns under the Constitution (e.g., if changes affect rights without notice). Final agency determinations could face court challenges if seen as arbitrary, though the bill deems them "final."
- Constitutional: No direct conflicts, but expedited processes might indirectly implicate separation of powers by empowering the executive branch (via agencies and OMB) to bypass legislative intent in older laws.
- Political: Represents a deregulatory approach, likely appealing to those favoring reduced government overreach, but could spark debate over AI reliability in legal decisions and the erosion of transparency in rule-making. As a bipartisan bill (introduced by Sens. Husted, Ernst, and Blackburn), it may advance amid broader tech-regulation discussions, but implementation depends on funding and AI advancements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Streamline the Code of Federal Regulations Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (6 pages)