BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1684

By: Guerra

Economic & Small Business Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that governmental regulatory bodies frequently adopt rules and issue forms without understanding the impact those rules have on commerce, which small businesses are often not equipped to endure. Sometimes these rules create barriers to entry and make it harder for start-up businesses to be successful. H.B. 1684 seeks to remedy this situation, improve small business creation in Texas, and give state agencies a better understanding of the economic impact and regulatory flexibility their rules have on Texas businesses.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1684 amends the Government Code to require a state agency, on being made aware that a proposed rule may have an adverse economic effect on small businesses or micro-businesses after notice of the proposed rule has been published, to prepare the required economic impact statement and regulatory flexibility analysis, publish the statement and the analysis in the Texas Register as an amendment to the proposed rule, and provide a copy of the statement and the analysis to the standing committee of each house of the legislature charged with reviewing the proposed rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.