Governor Ferguson signs executive order launching regulatory reform initiative

Order initiates a six-month pause on new agency rulemaking that imposes new or additional regulatory requirements

REDMOND - Yesterday Governor Bob Ferguson signed an executive order launching an initiative to streamline state regulations.

The executive order directs state agencies to take several actions to improve efficiency, including reviewing existing rules and statutes to identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary requirements, ease regulatory burdens and modernize administrative requirements. Agencies will be required to submit initial reports within eight months to recommend changes based on this review. The order also pauses all new agency rulemaking that would impose new regulatory requirements.

Governor Ferguson signed the executive order at the second meeting of the Governor's Economic Development Council. Microsoft, whose Vice Chair and President Brad Smith is a member of the Council, hosted the meeting in Redmond. Here is a link to some photos from the signing.

"There are few things that frustrate me more than bureaucracy that gets in the way of serving the people," said Governor Ferguson. "This executive order helps us reduce unnecessary burdens and strengthen Washington's economic competitiveness."

Improving government efficiency has been a priority for Governor Ferguson since his first day in office. Within minutes of being sworn in, Governor Ferguson signed an executive order to speed up permitting times at state agencies. Agencies have dramatically improved their processing times for Washingtonians and businesses. A few examples:

• The Department of Licensing cut processing time by almost 50 percent across its 340 licenses and permits - 46 to 25 days. All license types are being processed in 30 days or less and the agency has no backlogs.
• The Department of Labor and Industries achieved a 75 percent reduction in processing time for new contractor registrations, going from 12 weeks to 3 weeks.
• The Department of Financial Institutions cut processing time by over 50 percent for franchise applications, going from 17 to 8 days.

The new executive order builds on this successful effort. The Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA), in coordination with the Governor's Office and the Office of Financial Management (OFM), will lead this initiative.

Starting Friday, December 4, agencies will not initiate new rulemaking that would impose new regulatory requirements on businesses, individuals or other regulated entities, with limited exceptions, such as responding to imminent threats or binding legal requirements. This rulemaking pause will last six months.