Description:
S. 2296 would amend federal law to require agencies to post their regulatory guidance documents online. Typically, such documents explain how regulations are interpreted by the agency but are not themselves legally binding. Agencies often disseminate such guidance to the public in memorandums, notices, bulletins, directives, news releases, letters, blog posts, or speeches.
Federal policies require agencies to post important information online and to promote open and transparent government. According to the Government Accountability Office, many agencies already provide guidance documents to the public using websites, email, meetings, social media, mass media, and newsletters. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have no significant cost.
Enacting S. 2296 could affect direct spending by some agencies because they are authorized to use receipts from the sale of goods, fees, and other collections to cover operating costs. Therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Because most agencies can make adjustments to the amounts collected as operating costs change, CBO estimates any net changes in direct spending by those agencies would be insignificant. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 2296 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
S. 2296 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
