Texas legislature passes bill to create state version of Trump-inspired DOGE
Texas is on the verge of establishing its own Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) following the passage of a bill to create an efficiency office within the governor’s office. The bill, known as Senate Bill 14 (S.B. 14) and inspired by Elon Musk’s DOGE, aims to streamline state regulations and eliminate unnecessary rules.
If signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, S.B. 14 would create a new Texas Regulatory Office tasked with working to make regulations more cost-effective and transparent by cutting red tape and eliminating burdensome rules. An advisory panel would also be established to assist the governor in this effort, composed of business owners, researchers, state agencies, and members of the public.
The bill, authored by Weatherford Republican Phil King, has passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has expressed support for the bill, stating that it will help save taxpayers money and boost the Texas economy by reducing regulatory burdens.
“I prioritized SB 14 because President Trump’s creation of the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ inspired me to find ways Texas can save taxpayers and businesses money by cutting burdensome regulations,” Patrick said.
In addition to creating the Texas Regulatory Office, S.B. 14 also requires state agencies to write rules in plain language, reduce paperwork and fees, and justify new rules with clear cost and benefit analyses. It also empowers courts to challenge agency interpretations of laws, shifting legal authority away from agencies.
Furthermore, the bill mandates the development of an interactive website where the public can easily access agency rules, forms, and regulatory information by topic, industry, or North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.
The success of Elon Musk’s DOGE in uncovering wasteful spending at the federal level has served as a model for states like Texas looking to increase government efficiency. Through measures such as canceling contracts and workforce reductions, DOGE claims to have saved taxpayers $155 billion.
As Texas moves towards establishing its own efficiency office, the hope is that similar savings and improvements in government operations will be realized at the state level. With a focus on cutting red tape, eliminating unnecessary rules, and promoting transparency, the Texas Regulatory Office has the potential to make a significant impact on the state’s economy and government operations.
