Regulations are often viewed simply as rules, but they are much more than that. They can be overly restrictive, and they also come at a cost. In many ways, regulations function like taxes — and often stealthier than taxes, because bureaucracies can issue them with limited public oversight.
This past year, Governor Kim Reynolds’ DOGE task force studied the operations of local government and presented numerous recommendations on reform. The objective was to identify policies that would make local government more efficient, more taxpayer-friendly, and ultimately help reduce the property tax burden.
Governor Reynolds has repeatedly stated that if Iowans want lower property taxes, local governments need to change how they operate. Senator Scott Webster and his colleagues are advancing reforms to strengthen oversight of both state and local regulatory processes.
Senator Webster introduced SF 2395, a state-level REINS bill. At the same time, Representative John Wills has championed a companion bill in the Iowa House. SF 2395 would reform the state rule-making process by requiring ratification of major administrative rules and enhancing legislative oversight before costly regulations take effect — a reform grounded in restoring proper checks and balances among branches of government.
Complementing that work, Senator Webster also proposed SF 2434, which is a local government REINS Act. This proposal would require city councils and county boards of supervisors to approve internal policies, rules, and ordinances drafted by their respective departments — bringing greater transparency and accountability to local regulatory processes.
These REINS bills were all passed out of their respective committees ahead of this year’s first legislative funnel, signaling the intent of lawmakers to keep a close eye on the regulatory burden across the state.
Cities and counties have subunits and departments that draft regulations. Under the local government REINS Act, these departments would be required to submit proposed rules or regulations to the elected council or board of supervisors for approval before they take effect.
Importantly, the local government REINS Act is not simply adding another bureaucratic hoop. It strengthens internal checks and balances within local government and applies the broader principles behind regulatory reform, such as transparency, public scrutiny, and accountability, to the local level.
Under the proposal, any new regulation or ordinance must include a cost-benefit analysis that outlines its impact on taxpayers, businesses, and the overall economy. This impact analysis would be made available to the public and posted on the official city or county website.
When taxpayers think about the “administrative state,” they often picture the federal government, but local governments also have bureaucracies that require oversight. Applying REINS principles at the local level would be another screen for costly or unneeded regulation, and make the process more transparent and accountable, ensuring that unelected officials do not wield unchecked power without meaningful oversight.
Ultimately, the REINS approach is about restoring accountability where it belongs — with elected representatives who answer directly to the people. Regulations that carry real economic consequences should not take effect without meaningful oversight and transparency. By reinforcing checks and balances at the local level, Iowa can ensure that regulatory power is exercised carefully and in the best interests of taxpayers.
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