The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act, or REINS Act, has become a pivotal piece of legislation in Kansas. According to Elizabeth Patton, State Director of Americans for Prosperity-Kansas (AFP-KS), "We were headed towards the most harmful regulatory environment in the history of our state." The act aims to curb what many saw as unchecked power wielded by executive agencies that imposed costly mandates on businesses without legislative oversight.
In Kansas, prior to 2023, executive agencies often bypassed the legislature, leading to regulations that imposed fees and compliance costs detrimental to local industries. These actions prompted businesses to leave the state. Rep. Barbara Wasinger from Kansas' 111th District noted how these bureaucrats acted beyond their authority: “Bureaucrats have become the legislators, they legislate by regulation.”
To address this issue, Rep. Wasinger collaborated with AFP-KS. The organization aimed to restore checks and balances and foster economic growth through the REINS Act. This legislation requires any rule resulting in a financial burden exceeding $1 million over five years to undergo legislative review.
Elizabeth Patton questioned the role of a state legislature when executive agencies can make laws unchecked: “What’s the point of having a state legislature when you have an executive agency that has the power to make laws, and no one is going to check them on what they’re doing?”
With support from coalition partners like the Kansas Policy Institute and Senate allies such as Sen. Kellie Warren (SD-11), AFP-KS worked on drafting the REINS Act. Sen. Warren remarked on AFP's influence: “Once AFP got involved, that lightbulb went on in the Capitol for a lot of folks.”
Despite bipartisan support for passing both chambers, Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the bill. However, AFP rallied its allies in both houses to override this veto successfully.
The passage of the REINS Act positions Kansas as only the third state in America with such legislation. It serves as model legislation for other states seeking similar regulatory caps.
