Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act of 2026

Increased Transparency for Major Rules: Agencies would be required to prepare and publish an initial and final regulatory impact analysis for "major rules" (Section 2). This ensures that the public can see the anticipated costs and benefits before a rule is finalized.

Enhanced Stakeholder Input: The bill requires agencies to consult with a wide variety of State, local, Tribal officials, and impacted parties in the private sector, including small businesses (Section 3). This allows people and businesses to have a voice in the rulemaking process earlier.

Focus on Economic Benefits: Agencies would be required to select regulatory alternatives that maximize net benefits (Section 4). This aims to ensure that the chosen option provides the most value relative to its costs.

Increased Oversight and Accountability: The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs would provide guidance to ensure major rules are consistent with the law and do not conflict with other agency policies (Section 5). The Administrator must also submit an annual report to Congress regarding agency compliance.

Opportunities for Public Feedback on New Rules: When an agency intends to start a rulemaking that could become a major rule, they must publish a notice in the Federal Register that invites interested persons to propose alternatives and ideas (Section 6).

Legal Recourse for Aggrieved Parties: The bill provides that a person aggrieved by final agency action in adopting a major rule is entitled to judicial review to check if the agency complied with specific analysis and benefit requirements (Section 8).

Increased Economic Burdens via Major Rules: The bill identifies that "major rules" could cause an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more, or cause major increases in costs or prices for consumers, industries, or government agencies (Section 2).

Potential Job Losses: The bill requires agencies to estimate the effect of a major rule on job creation or job loss (Section 2), implying that certain regulations could lead to a reduction in employment.

Disproportionate Impacts on Specific Communities: A regulatory impact analysis must estimate if a rule will have disproportionate budgetary effects on specific regions, types of communities (such as urban or rural), or segments of the private sector (Section s 2).