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H.R. 1226
U.S. House•In House Committee
Summary
H.R. 1226, the Restoring Checks and Balances Act, was introduced in the House on Feb 12, 2025 by Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R) with 2 co-sponsors. It was referred to Oversight And Government Reform, and last saw action on Feb 12, 2025: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Record
Text
H.R. 1226 has 2 co-sponsors.
hb1226/introduced-in-house.txt119 HR 1226 IH: Restoring Checks and Balances ActU.S. House of Representatives2025-02-12text/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1226 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 12, 2025 Mr. Stutzman (for himself, Mr. Weber of Texas , and Mr. Norman ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILLTo sunset new Federal regulatory rules after 5 years, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Restoring Checks and Balances Act .2.Sunset of Federal regulations after 5 years(a)SunsetAny covered rule issued by an agency after the date of the enactment of this Act shall sunset on the date that is five years after the effective date of such covered rule, unless specifically reauthorized by an Act of Congress.(b)After sunsetAn agency may not reissue, enforce, revise, or take other regulatory action related to a covered rule that has sunset under subsection (a).(c)Oversight by OMB and heads of agenciesThe Director of the Office of Management and Budget or the head of the relevant agency may oversee the sunset of covered rules under subsection (a).3.Submission of request for reauthorization to Congress(a)Request for reauthorizationIf the head of an agency that issues covered rules wants to request a reauthorization for such rules, such head shall, not later than the December 1 that is one year before the date on which the covered rule is scheduled to sunset, submit to Congress and any appropriate committee of Congress a report containing such request that includes—(1)a justification for the reauthorization of each covered rule;(2)any related covered rules; and(3)any recommendation or request made by the chair or ranking member of an appropriate committee of Congress.(b)Single submissionThe head of an agency submitting a request for reauthorization under subsection (a) shall make every effort to bundle multiple requests for reauthorization in a single submission.(c)Public availability of reportsAny report submitted by the head of an agency under subsection (a) shall be published on the public website of the agency.4.Relationship to the administrative procedureNothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede the provisions of chapter 5, 6, or 7 of title 5, United States Code.5.DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)AgencyThe term agency has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.(2)AdministratorThe term Administrator means the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget.(3)Covered ruleThe term covered rule has the meaning given the term rule in section 551 of title 5, United States Code, but does not include a rule—(A)issued in accordance with the formal rulemaking provisions of sections 556 and 557 of title 5, United States Code;(B)issued with respect to a military or foreign affairs function of the United States;(C)that the Administrator certifies in writing is necessary for the enforcement of Federal criminal laws;(D)that is limited to agency organization, management, or personnel matters; or(E)that is necessary due to an imminent threat to human health or safety or any other emergency.(4)SunsetThe term sunset means to have no force or effect.
Tracker
The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.
- Introduced2025-02-12
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Conference
- To President
- Became Law
CRS Summary
The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.
Introduced in House Feb 12, 2025
hb1226/introduced-in-house.mdShown Here:
Introduced in House (02/12/2025)
Restoring Checks and Balances Act
This bill requires any covered rule issued by a federal agency after this bill's enactment to sunset five years after its effective date unless the rule is specifically reauthorized by Congress.
A covered rule generally means a rule under the Administrative Procedure Act, but does not include a rule
- issued in accordance with specified formal rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act;
- issued with respect to a military or foreign affairs function of the United States;
- that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs certifies is necessary for the enforcement of federal criminal laws;
- that is limited to agency organization, management, or personnel matters; or
- that is necessary due to an imminent threat to human health or safety or any other emergency.
An agency may not reissue, enforce, revise, or take other regulatory action related to a covered rule that has sunset.
The Office of Management and Budget or the relevant agency may oversee the sunset of covered rules.
If the agency that issues covered rules wants to request a reauthorization for such rules, such agency shall submit to Congress a report that includes (1) a justification for such reauthorization, (2) any related covered rules, and (3) any recommendation or request made by the chair or ranking member of an appropriate congressional committee.
Sponsors
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R) sponsors H.R. 1226, and 2 members have co-sponsored it, all of them from the day it was introduced.
Committees
H.R. 1226 went before 2 committees: Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform.

Actions
H.R. 1226 has taken 2 actions since Feb 12, 2025.
| Chamber | Action | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Feb 12, 2025 | House | Introduced in House | ||
Feb 12, 2025 | House | Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.Oversight and Government Reform Committee |
Votes
H.R. 1226 has not gone to a roll call.
Titles
H.R. 1226 goes by 3 titles, 1 of them short titles.
- Restoring Checks and Balances Act — Display Title
- Restoring Checks and Balances Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
- To sunset new Federal regulatory rules after 5 years, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced
Lobbying
1 client hired 1 firm and 7 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 1226 in 1 quarterly filing, 2025. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.
Filed under Agriculture, Budget/Appropriations, Clean Air and Water (quality), Energy/Nuclear, Government Issues, Natural Resources, Transportation.
Clients
Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.
| Client | Business | State | Firms | Filings | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EARTHJUSTICE ACTION | nonprofit advocacy organization | District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | — |
Firms
Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.
| Registrant | Clients | Filings | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| EARTHJUSTICE ACTION | 1 | 1 | — |
Lobbyists
Named on the filings that cite the bill.
| Lobbyist | Firms | Clients | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADDIE HAUGHEY | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| BLAINE MILLER MCFEELEY | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| JASMINE JENNINGS ELLER | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| KRISTIN BUTLER | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| NIRANJANI PRABHAKAR | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RAUL GARCIA LOPEZ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| STEPHEN SCHIMA | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Filings
The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.
| Client | Registrant | Period | Reported | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EARTHJUSTICE ACTION | EARTHJUSTICE ACTION | 2025 first_quarter | $92.6K | 1st Quarter - Report |
Classification
The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 1226 under Government Operations and Politics, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 2 legislative subjects.
CRS Subjects
CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 1226’s is Government Operations and Politics.
hr1226/policy-areas.txtLegislative Subjects
H.R. 1226 carries 2 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Administrative law and regulatory procedures to Congressional oversight.
hr1226/subjects.txtConstitutional authority
The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 1226, as entered in the Congressional Record.
[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. STUTZMAN:H.R. 1226.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.[Page H677]
Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com