Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. Ben Cline Push to End Overregulation and Cut Red Tape for Small Businesses

Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. Ben Cline Push to End Overregulation and Cut Red Tape for Small Businesses July 31, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott announced the introduction of the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act to make it easier for Americans to open small businesses. Regulations cost the U.S. economy more than $2 trillion annually, and they especially hurt small businesses. The Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act helps American entrepreneurs by forcing regulatory agencies to examine the true costs of every rule, regulation, or requirement. The bill improves the federal rulemaking by requiring designated agencies to assess the economic impact of a proposed regulation on small businesses and requires detailed descriptions of alternatives to a proposed rule with significant economic impact that would minimize any adverse economic impact or maximize any beneficial economic impact. Senator Rick Scott said, “A cornerstone of the American dream is the entrepreneurial spirit, but more and more small businesses are giving up because of overregulation and red tape. When I opened my first business, my donut shop only needed a handful of permits. Now, self-absorbed bureaucrats are piling on hundreds of regulations without thinking of the consequences for individual businesses and the U.S. economy. It’s our job to ensure hardworking people can live out the American Dream without the government getting in the way. I’m proud to partner with Rep. Cline to stop these agencies from overregulating and discouraging entrepreneurship.” This bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) in the House of Representatives in January 2025 and passed out of the House Judiciary Committee in June 2025. Representative Ben Cline said, “Small businesses across the Nation are at a disadvantage when complying with overly burdensome federal regulation. Facing insurmountable compliance costs, potential entrepreneurs all too often choose never to open their small businesses in the first place. Thank you, Senator Scott, for joining me in introducing the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, an important piece of legislation that will help American small businesses cut through the overwhelming weight of federal regulation.” Key Provisions of the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act: Broader economic analysis : Requires agencies to assess both direct and reasonably foreseeable indirect economic effects (e.g., compliance costs, revenue impact). Alternatives and benefits : Agencies must describe alternative rule options that either minimize adverse impacts or maximize benefits to small entities. Expanded applicability : Applies the RFA to more types of actions, including revisions to land management plans and interpretive rules. Remove waiver authority : Agencies can no longer skip the Regulatory Flexibility Act’s flexibility analysis; they also need to follow procedures set by SBA’s Chief Counsel. Transparency & accountability : Requires publications of detailed analyses, numeric or explain-why-not quantification. Mandates posting final regulatory flexibility analyses online. Increases avenues for public comment and judicial review. ### https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/7/sen-rick-scott-rep-ben-cline-push-to-end-overregulation-and-cut-red-tape-for-small-businesses