HARRISBURG – Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-16) announced today that his Senate Bill 245, “Regulatory Sandbox: Making PA the Home of Dynamic Innovation,” passed the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee that he chairs.
Senate Bill 245 would establish the Regulatory Sandbox Program within the Governor’s Office with an advisory committee of legislators and representatives from the business community. Under this program, entrepreneurs would be able to submit applications to temporarily waive or suspend certain laws or regulations to develop and market new products or services.
Coleman said, “Regulatory sandboxes allow regulators the flexibility to safely monitor and foster new ideas instead of simply shutting them down because regulations haven’t caught up with technology. Regulatory sandboxes allow companies and agencies to work together. While protecting public health and safety, regulatory sandboxes will also create a welcoming environment in Pennsylvania that aids in introducing new goods and services to benefit consumers.”
Coleman continued, “Regulatory sandboxes have been used effectively in at least 15 states, and many others are considering them. We need to break the cycle of being the last state to innovate.”
Senate Bill 245 now advances to the full Senate for consideration. It joins other regulatory reform bills introduced by Senate Republicans to change Pennsylvania’s ranking as one of the most heavily regulated states and ensure that individuals and businesses are not burdened by bureaucratic red tape and regulations no longer needed or exceeding their intended purpose.
Other reform bills that Coleman brought up for a committee vote and moved to the full Senate include:
- Senate Bill 333, the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act,” would require General Assembly approval before an economically significant regulation with an impact greater than $1 million could go into effect.
- Senate Bill 444, “Automatic Three-Year Review of Economically Significant Regulations,” would require agencies to conduct a review of all new economically significant regulations, after they have been in effect for three years. The review would evaluate the regulations’ effectiveness and efficiency, their actual fiscal impact, and whether they should be modified or repealed.
CONTACT: Leo Knepper, 717-787-1349