As CEO of the Regional Chamber of Commerce, I hear every day from business owners about the overwhelming burden of deficits that slow them down, drain them resources, and often discourage them from expanding or starting in the first place. Simply put, governments need a regulatory framework that allows businesses to thrive, rather than fighting under a mountain of constantly changing and inconsistent regulations. One of the most valuable business products is time. Time is money.
While Florida has built a reputation as one of the nation's most freest states, our regulatory framework still poses unnecessary barriers to economic growth. Florida ranks 13th Cicero Research InstituteThe assessment of the state's administrative procedures laws shows important room for improving the way businesses are regulated.
Florida can continue to be a place where entrepreneurs can build, innovate and succeed without the government getting in the way.
The numbers speak for themselves. Due to 170,321 regulatory restrictions, Florida is the 11th most burdened state in the country. We put us alongside states known for overregulation, such as Massachusetts, Illinois, and California. These excessive rules don't just cause headaches for business owners. They slow innovation, reduce employment opportunities, and increase the costs of everyday Floridians.
Florida House Building 305 modernizes the state's regulatory system and provides real relief for businesses while maintaining the protection they need.
We are at the turning point. President Trump's victory brought a clear mission to reduce the size of the government. At the federal level, the efficiency of Elon Musk and the Department of Government is digging deep to reveal a swarm of wasted spending. We are always proud to be a free state in Florida. This is where no one could confuse the incompetent and reckless federal government, or California and Illinois.
As President Trump and Doji lead the accusations to make the government more lean and efficient, states like Florida have the perfect opportunity to lead, reduce waste and give people more opportunities to succeed.
HB 305 tackles these challenges head-on by setting clear limits on bureaucratic overreach. Government agencies will no longer be able to establish regulations without express statutory authority. This change prevents bureaucrats from expanding their power through ambiguous interpretations of the law, ensuring that only Congress is responsible for the people.
The bill also requires cost-benefit analysis for all proposed regulations, ensuring that all regulations must prove that benefits exceed their costs. Any threshold will no longer determine which regulations face scrutiny. Instead, the agency should conduct a retrospective review after four years to ensure that the rules are provided as promised.
Automatic review and sunset regulations at the HB 305 Institute to prevent the stacking of outdated and redundant regulations. Regulations expire in 8 years unless reviewed and deemed necessary to ensure that Florida's regulatory code remains modern, relevant and efficient.
Transparency is another important pillar of this law. All regulatory documents, data and justifications are made available to the public online in machine-readable format to make it easy for businesses and citizens to access and understand rules that affect their lives and livelihoods.
While there are regulations needed for books to protect public health and safety, the HB 305 is designed to maintain essential protection while eliminating unnecessary and outdated deficits. By enacting these reforms, Florida can perfectly align its policies with our supporters.
Florida led the way in being freed from forceful government policies that thwart innovation and opportunities. Now is the time to take the next step by modernizing our regulatory systems. With the HB 305, Florida can remain a place where entrepreneurs can continue to build, innovate and succeed without the government getting in the way.
