I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2542 
To amend chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act), to ensure complete analysis of potential 
impacts on small entities of rules, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 27, 2013 
Mr. BACHUS (for himself, Mr. GRAVES of Missouri, Mr. BARROW of Georgia, 
Mr. MATHESON, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. COBLE, and Mr. ROKITA) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code (com-
monly known as the Regulatory Flexibility Act), to en-
sure complete analysis of potential impacts on small enti-
ties of rules, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2013’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Clarification and expansion of rules covered by the Regulatory Flexi-
bility Act. 
Sec. 3. Expansion of report of regulatory agenda. 
Sec. 4. Requirements providing for more detailed analyses. 
Sec. 5. Repeal of waiver and delay authority; additional powers of the Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy. 
Sec. 6. Procedures for gathering comments. 
Sec. 7. Periodic review of rules. 
Sec. 8. Judicial review of compliance with the requirements of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act available after publication of the final rule. 
Sec. 9. Jurisdiction of court of appeals over rules implementing the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. 
Sec. 10. Establishment and approval of small business concern size standards 
by chief counsel for advocacy. 
Sec. 11. Clerical amendments. 
Sec. 12. Agency preparation of guides. 
SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION AND EXPANSION OF RULES COV-
ERED BY THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY 
ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (2) of section 601 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) RULE.—The term ‘rule’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 551(4) of this title, ex-
cept that such term does not include a rule of par-
ticular (and not general) applicability relating to 
rates, wages, corporate or financial structures or re-
organizations thereof, prices, facilities, appliances, 
services, or allowances therefor or to valuations, 
costs or accounting, or practices relating to such 
rates, wages, structures, prices, appliances, services, 
or allowances.’’. 
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(b) INCLUSION
OF RULES WITH INDIRECT EF-
FECTS.—Section 601 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(9) ECONOMIC IMPACT.—The term ‘economic 
impact’ means, with respect to a proposed or final 
rule— 
‘‘(A) any direct economic effect on small 
entities of such rule; and 
‘‘(B) any indirect economic effect on small 
entities which is reasonably foreseeable and re-
sults from such rule (without regard to whether 
small entities will be directly regulated by the 
rule).’’. 
(c) INCLUSION OF RULES WITH BENEFICIAL EF-
FECTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANAL-
YSIS.—Subsection (c) of section 603 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the first 
sentence and inserting ‘‘Each initial regulatory flexi-
bility analysis shall also contain a detailed descrip-
tion of alternatives to the proposed rule which mini-
mize any adverse significant economic impact or 
maximize any beneficial significant economic impact 
on small entities.’’. 
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(2) FINAL
REGULATORY
FLEXIBILITY
ANAL-
YSIS.—The first paragraph (6) of section 604(a) of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘minimize the significant economic impact’’ and in-
serting ‘‘minimize the adverse significant economic 
impact or maximize the beneficial significant eco-
nomic impact’’. 
(d) INCLUSION OF RULES AFFECTING TRIBAL ORGA-
NIZATIONS.—Paragraph (5) of section 601 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘and tribal 
organizations (as defined in section 4(l) of the Indian Self- 
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
450b(l))),’’ after ‘‘special districts,’’. 
(e) INCLUSION OF LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS AND 
FORMAL RULEMAKING.— 
(1) INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANAL-
YSIS.—Subsection (a) of section 603 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended in the first sen-
tence— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘proposed 
rule,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or publishes a revision or 
amendment to a land management plan,’’ after 
‘‘United States,’’. 
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(2) FINAL
REGULATORY
FLEXIBILITY
ANAL-
YSIS.—Subsection (a) of section 604 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended in the first sen-
tence— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘proposed rule-
making,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or adopts a revision or 
amendment to a land management plan,’’ after 
‘‘section 603(a),’’. 
(3) LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN DEFINED.—Sec-
tion 601 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(10) LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘land man-
agement plan’ means— 
‘‘(i) any plan developed by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture under section 6 of 
the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Re-
sources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
1604); and 
‘‘(ii) any plan developed by the Sec-
retary of the Interior under section 202 of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712). 
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‘‘(B) 
REVISION.—The 
term 
‘revision’ 
means any change to a land management plan 
which— 
‘‘(i) in the case of a plan described in 
subparagraph (A)(i), is made under section 
6(f)(5) of the Forest and Rangeland Re-
newable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
(16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)); or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a plan described in 
subparagraph (A)(ii), is made under sec-
tion 1610.5–6 of title 43, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
‘‘(C) AMENDMENT.—The term ‘amend-
ment’ means any change to a land management 
plan which— 
‘‘(i) in the case of a plan described in 
subparagraph (A)(i), is made under section 
6(f)(4) of the Forest and Rangeland Re-
newable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
(16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(4)) and with respect to 
which the Secretary of Agriculture pre-
pares a statement described in section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy 
Act 
of 
1969 
(42 
U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)); or 
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‘‘(ii) in the case of a plan described in 
subparagraph (A)(ii), is made under sec-
tion 1610.5–5 of title 43, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation) 
and with respect to which the Secretary of 
the Interior prepares a statement described 
in section 102(2)(C) of the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)).’’. 
(f) INCLUSION OF CERTAIN INTERPRETIVE RULES 
INVOLVING THE INTERNAL REVENUE LAWS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 
603 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘or a 
recordkeeping requirement, and without regard to 
whether such requirement is imposed by statute or 
regulation.’’. 
(2) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—Paragraph 
(7) of section 601 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(7) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—The term 
‘collection of information’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 3502(3) of title 44.’’. 
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(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) a brief description of the sector of the 
North American Industrial Classification System 
that is primarily affected by any rule which the 
agency expects to propose or promulgate which is 
likely to have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities; and’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) Each agency shall prominently display a plain 
language summary of the information contained in the 
regulatory flexibility agenda published under subsection 
(a) on its website within 3 days of its publication in the 
Federal Register. The Office of Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration shall compile and prominently 
display a plain language summary of the regulatory agen-
das referenced in subsection (a) for each agency on its 
website within 3 days of their publication in the Federal 
Register.’’. 
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS PROVIDING FOR MORE DETAILED 
ANALYSES. 
(a) INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS.— 
Subsection (b) of section 603 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘(b) Each initial regulatory flexibility analysis re-
quired under this section shall contain a detailed state-
ment— 
‘‘(1) describing the reasons why action by the 
agency is being considered; 
‘‘(2) describing the objectives of, and legal basis 
for, the proposed rule; 
‘‘(3) estimating the number and type of small 
entities to which the proposed rule will apply; 
‘‘(4) describing the projected reporting, record-
keeping, and other compliance requirements of the 
proposed rule, including an estimate of the classes of 
small entities which will be subject to the require-
ment and the type of professional skills necessary 
for preparation of the report and record; 
‘‘(5) describing all relevant Federal rules which 
may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the proposed 
rule, or the reasons why such a description could not 
be provided; 
‘‘(6) estimating the additional cumulative eco-
nomic impact of the proposed rule on small entities 
beyond that already imposed on the class of small 
entities by the agency or why such an estimate is 
not available; and 
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‘‘(7) describing any disproportionate economic 
impact on small entities or a specific class of small 
entities.’’. 
(b) FINAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 604(a) of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘an ex-
planation’’ and inserting ‘‘a detailed expla-
nation’’; 
(B) in each of paragraphs (4), (5), and the 
first paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘detailed’’ be-
fore ‘‘description’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) describing any disproportionate economic 
impact on small entities or a specific class of small 
entities.’’. 
(2) INCLUSION OF RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON 
CERTIFICATION
OF
PROPOSED
RULE.—Paragraph 
(2) of section 604(a) of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ‘‘(or certification of the pro-
posed rule under section 605(b))’’ after ‘‘initial reg-
ulatory flexibility analysis’’. 
(3) PUBLICATION OF ANALYSIS ON WEBSITE.— 
Subsection (b) of section 604 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘(b) The agency shall make copies of the final regu-
latory flexibility analysis available to the public, including 
placement of the entire analysis on the agency’s website, 
and shall publish in the Federal Register the final regu-
latory flexibility analysis, or a summary thereof which in-
cludes the telephone number, mailing address, and link to 
the website where the complete analysis may be ob-
tained.’’. 
(c) CROSS-REFERENCES
TO OTHER ANALYSES.— 
Subsection (a) of section 605 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) A Federal agency shall be treated as satisfying 
any requirement regarding the content of an agenda or 
regulatory flexibility analysis under section 602, 603, or 
604, if such agency provides in such agenda or analysis 
a cross-reference to the specific portion of another agenda 
or analysis which is required by any other law and which 
satisfies such requirement.’’. 
(d) CERTIFICATIONS.—Subsection (b) of section 605 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘detailed’’ before ‘‘statement’’ 
the first place it appears; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and legal’’ after ‘‘factual’’. 
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(e) QUANTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Section 607 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘§ 607. Quantification requirements 
‘‘In complying with sections 603 and 604, an agency 
shall provide— 
‘‘(1) a quantifiable or numerical description of 
the effects of the proposed or final rule and alter-
natives to the proposed or final rule; or 
‘‘(2) a more general descriptive statement and 
a detailed statement explaining why quantification is 
not practicable or reliable.’’. 
SEC. 5. REPEAL OF WAIVER AND DELAY AUTHORITY; ADDI-
TIONAL POWERS OF THE CHIEF COUNSEL 
FOR ADVOCACY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 608 is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘§ 608. Additional powers of Chief Counsel for Advo-
cacy 
‘‘(a)(1) Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act 
of 2013, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration shall, after opportunity for notice 
and comment under section 553, issue rules governing 
agency compliance with this chapter. The Chief Counsel 
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may modify or amend such rules after notice and comment 
under section 553. This chapter (other than this sub-
section) shall not apply with respect to the issuance, modi-
fication, and amendment of rules under this paragraph. 
‘‘(2) An agency shall not issue rules which supple-
ment the rules issued under subsection (a) unless such 
agency has first consulted with the Chief Counsel for Ad-
vocacy to ensure that such supplemental rules comply with 
this chapter and the rules issued under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the Chief Coun-
sel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
may intervene in any agency adjudication (unless such 
agency is authorized to impose a fine or penalty under 
such adjudication), and may inform the agency of the im-
pact that any decision on the record may have on small 
entities. The Chief Counsel shall not initiate an appeal 
with respect to any adjudication in which the Chief Coun-
sel intervenes under this subsection. 
‘‘(c) The Chief Counsel for Advocacy may file com-
ments in response to any agency notice requesting com-
ment, regardless of whether the agency is required to file 
a general notice of proposed rulemaking under section 
553.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
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