I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1963 
To require the heads of agencies identify whether major rules of the agency 
are budget neutral, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 6, 2025 
Ms. VAN DUYNE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To require the heads of agencies identify whether major 
rules of the agency are budget neutral, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Agency Accountability 
and Cost Transparency Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT TO IDENTIFY WHETHER MAJOR 
RULES ARE BUDGET NEUTRAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The head of each agency shall— 
(1) before promulgating a major rule— 
(A) estimate the cost of the rule; 
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(B) identify whether any rule of the agency 
may be repealed to offset the cost of the major 
rule; and 
(C) repeal any rule identified under sub-
paragraph (B); and 
(2) include a statement along with each major 
rule published in the Federal Register that identifies 
whether the rule is budget neutral. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AGENCY.—The terms ‘‘agency’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) BUDGET
NEUTRAL.—The term ‘‘budget 
neutral’’ means that the cost of the rule is equal to 
the total amount of costs to the public eliminated as 
a result of the repeal of any rule identified under 
paragraph (1)(B). 
(3) COST OF THE RULE.—The term ‘‘cost of 
the rule’’ means the cost to the public of the rule, 
including any cost incurred to understand or imple-
ment the rule. 
(4) MAJOR
RULE.—The term ‘‘major rule’’ 
means any rule, including an interim final rule, that 
the Administrator of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and 
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Budget or the Federal agency promulgating such 
rule finds has resulted in or is likely to result in— 
(A) an annual effect on the economy of 
$100 million or more; 
(B) a major increase in costs or prices for 
consumers, 
individual 
industries, 
Federal, 
State, or local government agencies, or geo-
graphic regions; or 
(C) significant adverse effects on competi-
tion, employment, investment, productivity, in-
novation, or the ability of United States-based 
enterprises to compete with foreign-based enter-
prises in domestic and export markets. 
(5) RULE.—The term ‘‘rule’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 551, except that such 
term— 
(A) includes interpretative rules, general 
statements of policy, and all other agency guid-
ance documents; and 
(B) does not include— 
(i) any rule of particular applicability, 
including a rule that approves or pre-
scribes for the future rates, wages, prices, 
services, or allowances therefore, corporate 
or financial structures, reorganizations, 
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mergers, or acquisitions thereof, or ac-
counting practices or disclosures bearing 
on any of the foregoing; 
(ii) any rule relating to agency man-
agement or personnel; or 
(iii) any rule of agency organization, 
procedure, or practice that does not sub-
stantially affect the rights or obligations of 
non-agency parties. 
Æ 
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