Category Archives: regulation

The March Madness college basketball tournament began, continuing this month’s theme. Ukrainians continued to fight valiantly against Putin’s army, while ordinary Russian people are showing signs of dissent. The Fed raised the federal funds rate, and indicated it will likely raise rates throughout the year as a way to fight inflation. Meanwhile, agencies issued new regulations ranging from updating fax numbers to suspicious activity requirements.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 69 final regulations last week, after 66 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and 26 minutes.
• With 685 final regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 3,231 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021, President Biden’s first year, and 3,218 in 2020, President Trump’s final year.
• Agencies issued 30 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 35 the previous week.
• With 448 proposed regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 2,113 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021, and 2,102 in 2020.
• Agencies published 413 notices last week, after 504 notices the previous week.
• With 4,724 notices so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 22,283 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 20,018 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,693 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,585 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2022 contains 299 pages.
• With 15,837 pages so far, the 2022 Federal Register is on pace for 74,703 pages.
• For comparison, the 2021 Federal Register totals 74,352 pages, and 2020’s is 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are three such rules so far in 2021, none from the last week.
• This is on pace for 14 economically significant regulations in 2022.
• For comparison, there were 26 economically significant rules in 2021, and five in 2020.
• The total cost of 2022’s economically significant regulations so far is $187 million. However, only one of the three such rules issued this year gives the required cost estimates, so that figure is incomplete.
• For comparison, the running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There are 51 new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” so far in 2022. This is on pace for 241 significant rules for the year.
• For comparison, there were 387 such new regulations in 2021, and 79 in 2020.
• So far in 2022, 199 new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 939. Eighteen of them are significant, on pace for 83.
• For comparison, there were 912 rules in 2021 affecting small businesses, with 101 of them classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• Sanctions on luxury goods headed to Russia and Belarus.
• Administrative requirements for rewards from the Department of Energy.
• Exemptions to reporting suspicious activity requirements.
• Inflation-adjusted penalties for oil and gas operations.
• Broadcast radio technical rules.
• Authority for closing defense contracts.
• Defense acquisitions from Lithuania.
• Implementing telecom provisions from the 2018 farm bill.
• Albanian artifacts.
• Nigerian artifacts.
• Railroad workplace safety.
• Technical corrections to four mussel species.
• COVID-related interpreter regulations for people seeking asylum.
• Hoist assemblies.
• How to update a fax number.
• Rental car modifications for people with disabilities.
• Critical habitat for the Big Sandy crayfish and the Guyandotte River crayfish.
• Glycemic controllers.
• The Environmental Protection Agency has new “standards and practice for all appropriate inquiries.”
• Closing the homework gap.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

Putin continued his unprovoked war, and Ukrainians and their allies continued their heroic resistance. Inflation rose from 7.5 percent to 7.9 percent. Gas prices did not, in fact, reach a record high, as reported by many outlets that did not adjust for inflation; 2008’s record of $5.23 in today’s prices is safe as of this writing, and will hopefully remain that way. Meanwhile, agencies issued new regulations from windshield devices to viticultural areas.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 66 final regulations last week, after 71 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and 32 minutes.
• With 616 final regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 3,198 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021, President Biden’s first year, and 3,218 in 2020, President Trump’s final year.
• Agencies issued 35 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 53 the previous week.
• With 418 proposed regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 2,177 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021, and 2,102 in 2020.
• Agencies published 504 notices last week, after 452 notices the previous week.
• With 4,311 notices so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 22,453 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 20,018 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,585 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,628 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2022 contains 292 pages.
• With 14242 pages so far, the 2022 Federal Register is on pace for 73,656 pages.
• For comparison, the 2021 Federal Register totals 74,352 pages, and 2020’s is 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are three such rules so far in 2021, none from the last week.
• This is on pace for 15 economically significant regulations in 2022.
• For comparison, there were 26 economically significant rules in 2021, and five in 2020.
• The total cost of 2022’s economically significant regulations so far is $187 million. However, only one of the three such rules issued this year gives the required cost estimates, so this figure is incomplete.
• For comparison, the running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There are 46 new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” so far in 2022. This is on pace for 240 significant rules for the year.
• For comparison, there were 387 such new regulations in 2021, and 79 in 2020.
• So far in 2022, 175 new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 907. Sixteen of them are significant, on pace for 83.
• For comparison, there were 912 rules in 2021 affecting small businesses, with 101 of them classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• Sanctions against Russia.
• More sanctions against Russia.
• Sanctions against Belarus.
• Buy American rules.
• Special immigrant juvenile petitions.
• Where devices may be placed on car windshields.
• Another Flugzeugbau regulation. That’s 123 Flugzeugbau regulations since 1994.
• Energy conservation test procedures for commercial prerinse spray valves.
• A correction to an Internal Revenue Service rule for how to determine stock ownership.
• Calcium sulfate tolerances.
• Federal Communications Commission funds for communications networks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Inflation adjustments for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s penalties.
• And for the Indian Affairs Bureau’s penalties.
• Demographics reporting requirements from, uh, the Treasury Department.
• A suicide prevention program from the Defense Department.
• Expansion of the Clarksburg viticultural area.
• Establishment of the San Luis Obispo Coast viticultural area.
• A correction to already-delayed alcoholic beverage labeling rules.
• Boyne Thunder Poker Run.
• Class-action copyright rules for libraries.
• Emissions standards for stationary combustion turbines.
• Vehicle Identification Number requirements.
• Access fees from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

The Ukrainian people have proven more resilient that the Kremlin anticipated, though Putin’s invasion continued. President Biden gave his State of the Union speech. Employment grew by 628,000 jobs in January, once again closely tracking the virus’ waning trajectory. Meanwhile, agencies issued new regulations ranging from repossessed cars to voluntary recalls.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 71 final regulations last week, after 44 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and 38 minutes.
• With 550 final regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 3,198 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021, President Biden’s first year, and 3,218 in 2020, President Trump’s final year.
• Agencies issued 53 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 37 the previous week.
• With 383 proposed regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 2,227 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021, and 2,102 in 2020.
• Agencies published 452 notices last week, after 361 notices the previous week.
• With 3,834 notices so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 22,291 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 20,018 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,628 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,499 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2022 contains 292 pages.
• With 12,554 pages so far, the 2022 Federal Register is on pace for 72,988 pages.
• For comparison, the 2021 Federal Register totals 74,352 pages, and 2020’s is 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are three such rules so far in 2021, none from the last week.
• This is on pace for 17 economically significant regulations in 2022.
• For comparison, there were 26 economically significant rules in 2021 and five in 2020.
• The total cost of 2022’s economically significant regulations so far is $187 million. However, only one of the three such rules issued this year gives the required cost estimates, so this figure is incomplete.
• For comparison, the running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There are 41 new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” so far in 2022. This is on pace for 238 significant rules for the year.
• For comparison, there were 387 such new regulations in 2021, and 79 in 2020.
• So far in 2022, 156 new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 907. Fourteen of them are significant, on pace for 81.
• For comparison, there were 912 rules in 2021 affecting small businesses, with 101 of them classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• Sanctions against Russia.
• More sanctions against Russia.
• Repossessing automobiles.
• Agency Procedure Concerning the Treatment of Foreign State Respondents at the Initiation of the Enforcement Process.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency has new regulations for making regulations.
• The Tariff of Tolls along the St. Lawrence Seaway.
• Forwarding mail.
• A delay in new labeling rules for tobacco products.
• The Rural Energy for America Program.
• Oxygen cylinders for airplanes.
• The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board is making its guidance documents less transparent to the public.
• The peppered chub is now an endangered species.
• Amendments to the list of allowed and forbidden substances in organic foods.
• Food and Drug Administration guidance for initiating voluntary recalls.
• Lighter commercial fuel oil.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

Inflation reached an annualized rate of 7.5 percent, with prices going up 0.6 percent just in January. This is highest reading in 40 years. Meanwhile, agencies issued new regulations ranging from powerline vegetation to natural gas containers.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 68 final regulations last week, after 62 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and 28 minutes.
• With 371 final regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 3,312 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021, President Biden’s first year, and 3,218 in 2020, President Trump’s final year.
• Agencies issued 44 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 75 the previous week.
• With 251 proposed regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 2,259 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021, and 2,102 in 2020.
• Agencies published 442 notices last week, after 483 notices the previous week.
• With 2,555 notices so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 22,813 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 20,018 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,378 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,993 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2022 contains 291 pages.
• With 8,138 pages so far, the 2022 Federal Register is on pace for 72,661 pages.
• For comparison, the 2021 Federal Register totals 74,352 pages, and 2020’s is 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are three such rules so far in 2021, one from the last week.
• This is on pace for 27 economically significant regulations in 2022.
• For comparison, there were 26 economically significant rules in 2021, and five in 2020.
• The total cost of 2022’s economically significant regulations so far is $187 million. However, only one of the three such rules issued this year gives the required cost estimates, so this figure is incomplete.
• For comparison, the running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There are 31 new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” so far in 2022. This is on pace for 277 significant rules for the year.
• For comparison, there were 387 such new regulations in 2021, and 79 in 2020.
• So far in 2022, 111 new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 991. Eleven of them are significant, on pace for 98.
• For comparison, 912 new rules in 2021 affected small businesses, with 101 of them classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• It’s official: floating outer continental shelf facilities are not vessels.
• Montana air plan revisions.
• Federal Communications Commission regulations for political speech.
• Vision standards for truckers.
• Ethiopia sanctions.
• Burundi sanctions.
• Labels on alcoholic beverages.
• Revisions to the Unverified List.
• Robocalls, or more precisely, the Fourth Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration for Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls.
• Guaranteed loans for housing. What could possibly go wrong?
• School lunch costs will go up $187 million per year because of this new regulation.
• The Pandemic Cover Crop Program.
• New rules for giving federal prisoners time off their sentences for good behavior.
• Procedures for operating plans and agreements for vegetation management near powerlines.
• New standards for natural gas containers.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

The U.S. government’s debt reached $30 trillion last week. Antitrust target Facebook lost users last quarter for the first time in its history, while its competitors gained users. Meanwhile, agencies issued new rules ranging from snails to art in architecture.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 62 final regulations last week, after 65 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and 43 minutes.
• With 303 final regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 3,156 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021, President Biden’s first year, and 3,218 in 2020, President Trump’s final year.
• Agencies issued 75 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 40 the previous week.
• With 207 proposed regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 2,156 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021, and 2,102 in 2020.
• Agencies published 483 notices last week, after 354 notices the previous week.
• With 2,113 notices so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 22,010 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 20,018 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,993 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,341 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2022 contains 282 pages.
• With 6,757 pages so far, the 2022 Federal Register is on pace for 70,385 pages.
• For comparison, the 2021 Federal Register totals 74,352 pages, and 2020’s is 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are two such rules so far in 2021, none from the last week.
• That is on pace for 16 economically significant regulations in 2022.
• For comparison, there were 26 economically significant rules in 2021 and five in 2020.
• Since neither of 2022’s economically significant regulations give the required cost estimate, we cannot yet provide a total estimate for their combined cost.
• For comparison, the running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There are 29 new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” so far in 2022. This is on pace for 302 significant rules for the year.
• For comparison, there were 387 such new regulations” in 2021, and 79 in 2020.
• So far in 2022, 85 new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 885. Ten of them are significant, on pace for 104.
• For comparison, 912 new rules in 2021 affected small businesses, with 101 of them classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• Classification of reporter expression for microbial detection.
• Over-the-counter photoplethysmograph analysis software.
• Postal Service competitive products.
• A temporary increase in H-2B visas.
• Foreign-direct product rules.
• Compensation for Gulf War veterans.
• Guidance for third-parties administering commercial driver’s license tests.
• The San Benito evening primrose is no longer an endangered species.
• The Morro shoulderband snail’s status under the Endangered Species Act is being upgraded from endangered species to threatened.
• The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board is making its guidance documents less transparent to the public.
• Revised critical habitat for jaguars.
• Handling natural gas at waterfront facilities.
• Art in architecture.
• New Freedom of Information Act procedures from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

GDP grew 5.7 percent during 2021, giving further evidence of a strong economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, Congress is now considering the 2,912-page America COMPETES Act, which includes more than $52 billion of subsidies to private businesses and countless provisions unrelated to economic competitiveness. Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement from the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, agencies issued new rules ranging from school lunches to wood-burning heaters.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 65 final regulations last week, after 58 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and eight minutes.
• With 241 final regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 3,171 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021, President Biden’s first year, and 3,218 in 2020, President Trump’s final year.
• Agencies issued 40 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 29 the previous week.
• With 132 proposed regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 1,737 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021, and 2,102 in 2020.
• Agencies published 354 notices last week, after 509 notices the previous week.
• With 1,630 notices so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 21,447 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 20,018 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,341 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 895 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2022 contains 244 pages.
• With 4,762 pages so far, the 2022 Federal Register is on pace for 62,658 pages.
• For comparison, the 2021 Federal Register totals 74,352 pages, and 2020’s is 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are two such rules so far in 2021, none from the last week.
• This is on pace for 26 economically significant regulations in 2022.
• For comparison, there were 26 economically significant rules in 2021, and five in 2020.
• Since neither of 2022’s economically significant regulations give the required cost estimate, we cannot yet provide a total estimate for their combined cost.
• For comparison, the running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There are 24 new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” so far in 2022. This is on pace for 316 significant rules for the year.
• For comparison, there were 387 such new regulations” in 2021, and 79 in 2020.
• So far in 2022, 64 new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 842. Seven of them are significant, on pace for 92.
• For comparison, 912 new rules in 2021 affected small businesses, with 101 of them classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• The Department of Homeland Security writes its own rules for exempting itself from transparency requirements.
• School lunches.
• The Underground Tank Storage Program.
• Batteries for the exit lights in airplane cabins.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration rescinded its requirement for employees of private companies with more than 100 employees to be vaccinated.
• The minimum wage for federal contractors is now $15 per hour.
• The Federal Aviation Administration has a new rule for medical certificate fraud.
• Determining whether someone owns stock.
• Certifying whether a small business is owned by an economically disadvantaged woman.
• Travel restrictions against Canada and Mexico.
• Restrictions on wood-burning heaters.
• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporatoin is simplifying some of its deposit insurance rules.
• Oil pipeline index.
• Missouri mining.
• An increase in H-2B visas for skilled workers.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, everyone. Inflation hit a 40-year high last week. Meanwhile, agencies issued new rules ranging from French dressing freedom to windshield wipers for airplanes.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 79 final regulations last week, after 39 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and eight minutes.
• With 118 final regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 2,950 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021, President Biden’s first year, and 3,218 in 2020, President Trump’s final year.
• Agencies issued 46 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 17 the previous week.
• With 63 proposed regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 1,575 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021 and 2,102 in 2020.
• Agencies published 484 notices last week, after 283 notices the previous week.
• With 767 notices so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 19,175 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 21,985 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,459 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,059 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2022 contains 252 pages.
• With 2,522 pages so far, the 2022 Federal Register is on pace for 63,050 pages.
• For comparison, the 2021 Federal Register totals 74,352 pages, and 2020’s is 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are two such rules so far in 2021, none from the last week.
• This is on pace for 50 economically significant regulations in 2022.
• For comparison, there were 26 economically significant rules in 2021, and five in 2020.
• Since neither of 2022’s economically significant regulations give the required cost estimate, we cannot yet provide a total estimate for their combined cost.
• For comparison, the running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There are 13 new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” so far in 2022. This is on pace for 325 significant rules for the year.
• For comparison, there were 387 such new regulations” in 2021, and 79 in 2020.
• So far in 2022, 31 new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 260. Five of them are significant, on pace for 125.
• For comparison, 912 new rules in 2021 affected small businesses, with 101 of them classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• The Food and Drug Administration has deregulated French dressing.
• Capital stock requirements for banks from the Federal Reserve.
• Buy Indian regulations for government purchases from Native American-owned contractors.
• Rules for human tissue intended for transplantation.
• The National Endowment for the Arts has adjusted its monetary penalties for inflation.
• Transmission line ratings.
• The Industry and Security Bureau is delaying new information security controls.
• The Postal Service is making its Plus One product permanent.
• The Postal Service is also inflation-adjusting its monetary penalties.
• As is the Environmental Protection Agency.
• So are U.S. Customs, the Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration.
• Safety regulations for water power projects.
• Windshield wipers for airplanes.
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is revising its enforcement policies and inflation-adjusting its penalties.
• Rules of practice for Federal Reserve hearings.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is adjusting its penalties for inflation.
• Fees for reclaiming abandoned mines.
• Venting tool and descending device requirements for fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

Teachers’ unions continued to make an eloquent case for school choice by shutting down schools in major cities like Chicago. The country also observed the anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riots and the violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Meanwhile, agencies issued new rules ranging from foreign income to migratory bird permits.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 39 final regulations last week, after 56 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every four hours and 19 minutes.
• With 39 final regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 975 final regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021, President Biden’s first year, and 3,218 in 2020, President Trump’s final year.
• Agencies issued 17 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 38 the previous week.
• With 17 proposed regulations so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 850 proposed regulations this year.
• For comparison, there were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021, and 2,102 in 2020.
• Agencies published 283 notices last week, after 328 notices the previous week.
• With 283 notices so far in 2022, agencies are on pace to issue 14,150 notices this year.
• For comparison, there were 21,985 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,059 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,426 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2022 contains 212 pages.
• With 1,059 pages so far, the 2022 Federal Register is on pace for 55,068 pages.
• For comparison, the 2021 Federal Register totals 74,352 pages, and 2020’s is 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are two such rules so far in 2021, both from the last week.
• For comparison, there were 26 economically significant rules in 2021, and five in 2020.
• Since neither of 2022’s economically significant regulations have the required cost estimate, we cannot yet provide a total estimate for their combined cost.
• For comparison, the running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There are six new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” so far in 2022. This is on pace for 312 significant rules for the year.
• For comparison, there were 387 such new regulations” in 2021, and 79 in 2020.
• So far in 2022, five new regulations affect small businesses, on pace for 260. Two of them are significant, on pace for 104.
• For comparison, 912 new rules in 2021 affected small businesses, with 101 classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• Foreign real estate buyers.
• Migratory bird permits.
• An extension of emergency fishing decisions.
• Exporting spatial imaging software.
• Credit union penalties adjusted for inflation.
• Federal Communications Commission penalties adjusted for inflation.
• Department of Commerce penalties adjusted for inflation.
• 988 is the new National Suicide Hotline.
• The Panama City crayfish is now a threatened species.
• The definition of “antique firearm.”
• Importing sheep and goats.
• Highway design standards.
• Underground injection control.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

Happy new year, everyone. The Biden administration’s first Federal Register volume is officially complete. While there likely will not be much significant legislation in 2022, which would put downward pressure on new rule counts, the administration may react to this by enacting policies on its own without congressional authorization, which would put upward pressure on new rule counts. Which of these opposing forces will be stronger? We’ll find out. Meanwhile, agencies issued new rules ranging from sculpin classification to trading weapons of mass destruction.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 56 final regulations last week, after 63 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and 40 minutes.
• There were 3,257 new final regulations in 2021. 2020’s total was 3,218 final regulations.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and 41 minutes for the entire year, 24/7.
• Agencies issued 38 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 26 the previous week.
• There were 2,094 new proposed regulations in 2021. 2020’s total was 2,102 proposed regulations.
• Agencies published 328 notices last week, after 370 notices the previous week.
• There were 21,985 notices in 2021. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,426 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,310 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue in 2021 contained 299.8 pages.
• The 2021 Federal Register contains a total of 74,352 pages. The 2020 total was 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are 26 such rules so far in 2021, one from the last week. Agencies published five economically significant rules in 2020, and four in 2019.
• The running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $13.54 billion to $19.36 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• There were 387 new regulations meeting the broader definition of “significant” in 2021. 2020’s total was 79 significant final rules.
• In 2021, 912 new rules affected small businesses; 101 are classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• New greenhouse gas emissions for light-duty vehicles will cost between $4.6 and $5.3 billion in 2023.
• Trade controls for weapons of mass destruction.
• Most Favored Nation rules from… the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services?
• After recent labor union corruption scandals, unions will now have fewer financial reporting requirements.
• Robocalls.
• The Environmental Protection Agency has expanded its inspection powers.
• Trade agreements and defense acquisitions.
• The Siderastrea glynni, a species of coral, is no longer an endangered species.
• Reclassifying sculpin.
• Energy conservation standards for furnaces and heaters.
• Butterfly pea flower extract.
• Bus rollovers.
• Security bars.
• Enterprise housing goals from the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
• Fire safety for small boats.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.

The Federal Register took Christmas Eve off, and here’s hoping everyone had a happy holiday season. One more week to go in 2021. The Food and Drug Administration finally approved at-home COVID-19 pills. November’s consumer spending growth slowed from October, but still grew. Meanwhile, agencies issued new rules ranging from fragrance components to blueberry councils.

On to the data:

• Agencies issued 63 final regulations last week, after 74 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every two hours and 40 minutes.
• With 3,205 final regulations so far in 2021, agencies are on pace to issue 3,257 final regulations this year. 2020’s total was 3,218 final regulations.
• Agencies issued 26 proposed regulations in the Federal Register last week, after 50 the previous week.
• With 2,052 proposed regulations so far in 2021, agencies are on pace to issue 2,086 proposed regulations this year. 2020’s total was 2,102 proposed regulations.
• Agencies published 370 notices last week, after 422 notices the previous week.
• With 21,657 notices so far in 2021, agencies are on pace to issue 22,011 notices this year. 2020’s total was 22,480.
• Last week, 1,310 new pages were added to the Federal Register, after 1,011 pages the previous week.
• The average Federal Register issue this year contains 300 pages.
• With 73,103 pages so far, the 2021 Federal Register is on pace for 74,297 pages in 2021. The 2020 total was 87,352 pages. The all-time record adjusted page count (subtracting skips, jumps, and blank pages) is 96,994, set in 2016.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. There are 25 such rules so far in 2021, none from the last week. Agencies published five economically significant rules in 2020, and four in 2019.
• The running cost tally for 2021’s economically significant rules ranges from $8.94 billion to $14.06 billion. The 2020 figure ranges from net savings of between $2.04 billion and $5.69 billion, mostly from estimated savings on federal spending. The exact numbers depend on discount rates and other assumptions.
• Agencies have published 372 final rules meeting the broader definition of “significant” in 2021, with four in the last week. This is on pace for 378 significant rules in 2021. 2020’s total was 79 significant final rules.
• In 2021, 901 new rules affect small businesses; 97 are classified as significant. 2020’s totals were 668 rules affecting small businesses, 26 of them significant.

Highlights from last week’s new regulations:

• Membership rules for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.
• Membership rules for the National Peanut Board.
• A correction to recent tipping regulations.
• The definition of a showerhead.
• Flugzuegbau gliders.
• “Activity changes” in the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order.
• COVID-related travel restrictions to Canada and Mexico are being lifted.
• Cable TV royalties.
• Lamb promotion activity changes.
• COVID-related relief for credit unions.
• Passport renewal applicants can now apply by mail or online.
• Fragrance components.
• Pacific cod reallocation.
• Reporting requirements for tart cherries.
• The Hermes copper butterfly is now a threatened species.

For more data, see Ten Thousand Commandments and follow @10KC and @RegoftheDay on Twitter.