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JOINT RESOLUTION URGING ADOPTION OF THE

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REGULATION FREEDOM AMENDMENT

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2015 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

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House Sponsor: Val L. Peterson

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This joint resolution of the Legislature urges the United States Congress to adopt the
11     Regulation Freedom amendment to the United States Constitution.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This resolution:
14          ▸     urges Congress to adopt, as an amendment to the United States Constitution, the
15     Regulation Freedom Amendment; and
16          ▸     proposes the amendment as requiring a majority vote of the United States House of
17     Representatives and the United States Senate to approve any proposed federal
18     regulation, following a written declaration of opposition to such proposed federal
19     regulation by one quarter of the members by either of the aforementioned House of
20     Representatives or Senate.
21     Special Clauses:
22          None
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24     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          WHEREAS, the growth and abuse of federal regulatory authority threatens our
26     Constitutional liberties, including those guaranteed by the Bill of Rights in the First, Second,
27     Fourth, and Fifth Amendments of our Constitution;
28          WHEREAS, federal regulators must be more accountable to elected representatives of
29     the people and not immune from such accountability;

30          WHEREAS, the United States House of Representatives has passed the Regulations
31     from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act with bipartisan support;
32          WHEREAS, the REINS Act requires that Congress approve major new federal
33     regulations before they can take effect;
34          WHEREAS, though the REINS Act is a tremendous beginning in providing a check on
35     federal regulatory authority, enactment of the REINS Act may be repealed or waived by a
36     future Congress and President;
37          WHEREAS, an amendment to the United States Constitution does not require the
38     President's approval and cannot be waived by a future Congress and President, but only
39     repealed through the same constitutional amendment process:
40          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
41     urges the United States Congress to vote to propose the Regulation Freedom amendment to the
42     United States Constitution as follows:
43          "Whenever one quarter of the members of the United States House of Representatives
44     or the United States Senate transmits to the President their written declaration of opposition to
45     a proposed federal regulation, it shall require a majority vote of the House of Representatives
46     and the Senate to adopt that regulation."
47          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the
48     members of Utah's congressional delegation, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
49     and the President of the Senate of every state legislature in the United States.