Missouri Strengthens Regulatory Flexibility

Small businesses in Missouri have new protections against overly burdensome proposed regulations thanks to a bill signed into law today by Governor Matt Blunt. The new law strengthens Missouri’s current regulatory flexibility laws by providing small businesses with judicial review of agency compliance with rulemaking procedures. It also requires agencies to periodically review existing regulations that affect small businesses to ensure that they are still necessary.
“Adding judicial review is an important step forward for our state’s small businesses,” said Scott George, president and CEO of Mid America Dental & Hearing Center in Mt. Vernon, MO. “Now the law has some teeth, and that will help small business and state agencies work together to produce good regulations that get the job done without causing serious harm. It means a better business and job creating climate for Missouri,” he said.
It is a shame that the logic of regulatory flexibility was not enough to assure it was implemented effectively in Missouri. Bringing the courts in is adding a worrisome step in the process.