JSA2026 NYS | Regulation Relief & Renewal Act (R3A)
Categories :
Regulation Relief & Renewal Act (R3A)
“Smart rules, faster answers, fairer process.”
Small Business
Housing
Infrastructure
Health & Mental Health
Cutting “red tape” isn’t enough. R3A changes the culture — clocks, portals, sunsets, and public scorecards — so people can build, hire, heal, and live without Albany’s delay.
Phase I — Audit & Accountability (First 100 Days)
- Independent Red Tape Commission (IRTC): 12‑member bipartisan/public panel; inventory every active reg; publish the “Top 100 Burdens.”
- Public Input Portal: “Nominate a bad rule” submissions + quarterly streamed hearings; submissions tracked publicly.
- Agency Response Memos: Each rule tagged for repeal, rewrite, or retain — with data and deadlines.
- Clock Discipline: Every process gets a decision clock; clocks become performance metrics.
Phase II — Small Business Freedom Package
- Automatic Waiver: Businesses <25 employees exempt from large‑corporate reporting except core safety/health.
- Flat‑Fee Licensing: One license, one renewal date; consolidated inspections where safe.
- Universal Mobile Vendor Permit: Statewide permit for food trucks, pop‑ups, and markets — one application, valid everywhere.
- Ombudsman Fast‑Fix: Resolve contradictions and minor infractions with guidance, not gotchas.
Phase III — Housing & Infrastructure Fast Track
- SEQRA Time Cap: Environmental review ≤18 months; appeals ≤6 months. Standards intact; games gone.
- Fast‑Track Housing Zones (FHZ): Crisis ZIPs; projects with ≥20% affordable units on a single, public clock.
- Infrastructure Acceleration Board: Bridges, broadband, energy lines, water — unified permits and coordinated leads.
- One Portal: Single login for permits, status, fees; timestamped milestones.
Phase IV — Sunsets & Scorecards
- Five‑Year Sunset Rule: All regs expire unless reauthorized with fresh cost‑benefit analysis.
- Agency Red Tape Scorecard: Annual letter grades — forms killed, clocks met, backlogs cleared, appeals resolved.
- Legislative Override: Legislature must vote to keep any rule flagged “high cost / low benefit.”
- Public Registry: Archived retired forms; side‑by‑side before/after timelines.
Phase V — Enforcement & Culture Shift
- Regulatory Ombudsman: Navigates applicants; waives minor contradictions; publishes fix memos.
- Red Tape Bounty: Rewards staff/citizens who identify obsolete or conflicting rules we remove.
- Zero‑Delay Pledge: Miss the clock → automatic approval with post‑audit rights + public notice.
- Manager Metrics: Clock performance tied to pay and promotion.
Fast Lanes — What New Yorkers Will Feel
| Sector | Today’s Friction | R3A Fast Lane | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business | Different forms, logins, months of silence. | Single portal • One‑page forms • 90‑day clock • Ombudsman waivers. | Open in weeks, not seasons. More hiring, fewer closures. |
| Housing | Years of SEQRA ping‑pong & litigation ambush. | 18‑month cap • consolidated scoping • FHZ prioritization. | Units delivered faster; rent/ownership pressure eases. |
| Health & Mental Health | Paperwork eclipses patient care. | Cut duplicative reporting • outcome‑based audits • rural clinic relief. | Shorter waits, more clinicians, better outcomes. |
| Infrastructure & Energy | Multi‑agency maze, no single clock. | Acceleration Board • unified permits • statutory clocks. | Faster bridges, broadband, and grid upgrades. |
| Schools (SEZ/LEZ) | Innovation smothered by one‑size‑fits‑all rules. | SEZ/LEZ authority to pilot proven models on faster cycles. | Measurable gains in literacy, safety, and choice. |
Non‑Negotiables (Guardrails)
- Worker Safety stays. OSHA‑aligned and state protections remain intact.
- Clean Air & Water stay. SEQRA timelines speed process — standards don’t change.
- Civil Rights & Accessibility stay. ADA, anti‑discrimination, language access preserved.
- Public Notice remains. Faster clocks with better transparency — not surprise permits.
Transparency & Scorecards
- Open Permitting Dashboard: Live application status; every clock visible; auto‑approvals logged with post‑audit.
- Red Tape Scorecard: Annual grades; backlog cleared; appeals resolved.
- Commonwealth Link: Savings shown line‑by‑line; where dollars go (debt, tax relief, or services).
Legal Authorities & Pathways
- SAPA: Expedited rulemaking, consolidated comment, formal cost‑benefit standards.
- SEQRA (ECL Art. 8): Time caps + coordinated review by statute; standards intact, clocks enforced.
- Executive Authority: Establish IRTC, Ombudsman, unified portal, and performance metrics.
- Budget Bill: Enact sunsets, scorecards, permit clocks, and small‑biz exemptions with enforcement riders.
Metrics, Savings & Timelines
| Target | 12‑Month Goal | 18‑Month Goal | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form Simplification | Cut ≥40% forms/pages | Cut ≥60% forms/pages | Public inventory + archive |
| Permit Decision Time | Median ≤90 days | Median ≤60 days | Live dashboard + audits |
| SEQRA Durations | Median ≤18 months | 90% ≤18 months | Project registry timestamps |
| Small‑Biz Compliance Hours | ‑30% reported hours | ‑45% reported hours | Independent survey + logs |
| Direct Fiscal Savings | $250M–$500M modeled | $500M–$900M modeled | Comptroller validation |
Join the Effort
Nominate a bad rule, share evidence, and track the fix. If it doesn’t help New Yorkers, we don’t keep it.
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