Description:
S. 380 would 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 to promote open and transparent government. According to the Government Accountability Office, many agencies already provide guidance documents using websites, email, meetings, social media, mass media, and newsletters. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have no significant cost. Enacting S. 380 could affect direct spending by some agencies (such as the Tennessee Valley Authority) that are authorized to use receipts from the sale of goods, fees, and other collections to cover their operating costs. Because most of those agencies can adjust the amounts collected as their operating costs change, CBO estimates that any net changes in direct spending by those agencies would be negligible.
