State Rep. Ann Bollin this week voted to advance a plan aimed at restoring transparency and accountability to Michigan’s rulemaking process, ensuring state agencies are held responsible to the people of Michigan.

Rules created by state departments shape everyday life across Michigan, from household costs and workplace regulations to how businesses operate in local communities. But under the current system, Bollin said residents often have little meaningful opportunity to influence those decisions once the process is underway, even when rules are costly, confusing, or out of touch with real-world needs.

“When government decisions carry this much impact on people’s daily lives, there has to be a meaningful way for the public to be heard and real accountability,” said Bollin, R-Brighton Township. “This plan restores that balance by making sure major rules are reviewed and decisions are made in the open.”

Currently, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) is responsible for examining rules proposed in the Michigan Administrative Code or adopted by state agencies. While the committee can raise objections and ask for changes to the proposed rule, lawmakers have little ability to stop departments from moving forward without making changes. In recent years, agencies such as the Secretary of State and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy have held public hearings on proposed changes but failed to meaningfully incorporate that feedback. As a result, problematic rules can still take effect, leaving litigation as one of the only remaining options — a costly process that can tie up both state and local courts.

House Bills 5817-5818 create a new Regulatory Oversight and Administrative Review (ROAR) committee and require legislative approval of major administrative rules before they take effect.

The new ROAR committee would replace the current JCAR structure and evaluate and decide on proposed administrative rules. The legislation also requires a review of rules after five years to determine whether they are still serving the best interests of Michigan residents.

Bollin said the reforms will help ensure that public input is taken seriously and that agencies cannot move forward with significant policy changes without proper oversight.

“When people take time to share their concerns, they expect it to matter,” Bollin said. “This gives residents a stronger voice and prevents rules from moving forward without proper review, so we can stop burdensome and unnecessary regulations from ever taking effect.”

House Bills 5817-5818 were approved by the House and now move to the Senate for further consideration.