Votes on seven small-business bills

Prove It Act

• Let small entities challenge agency certifications: Small entities, groups of small entities, and organizations representing them could ask the Small Business Administration’s Chief Counsel for Advocacy to review an agency’s certification that a proposed rule would not significantly affect a substantial number of small entities. If a full review finds that it would, the agency must prepare the required initial and final analyses; if the agency does not assist with the review, its final rule would not apply to small entities
• Count indirect costs in rule reviews: When feasible, agencies would have to include reasonably foreseeable indirect costs on small entities in their initial analyses, including costs affecting businesses connected to directly regulated entities. Periodic reviews of rules would also consider indirect costs
• Make overdue rule reviews affect rules: If an agency misses the required 10-year review period, the rule would cease to be effective. The agency would seek comments on reinstating it; if it decides to reinstate the rule, it would have 180 days to complete the review before the rule takes effect again

1. Introduced
2. In committee
3. Reported▲ THIS MARKUP
4. Passed House
5. Passed Senate
6. Law

What’s next: a floor vote. None is scheduled.