Arizona Chamber of Commerce Says Arizona is Open for Business

Arizona House of Representatives passes Regulatory Reform Bills Reducing Burden on Businesses.

Two Arizona Chamber & AMC Priority Bills on Regulatory Reform Move out of House

PHOENIX Arizona The Arizona House of Representatives passed two bills aimed at reducing burdensome regulations and helping businesses maintain operational flexibility during the economic downturn.  These efforts complement Governor Jan Brewer’s Executive Order to temporarily freeze new rule-making until April 30th to provide her office with a chance to review regulations already in the pipeline.

HB 2240, sponsored by Representative Andy Tobin (R, LD-1), creates a one-year regulatory moratorium that prohibits state agencies from enacting new regulations that will increase the costs on business and local governments.

“The cost of regulation compliance for a small manufacturer can exceed $7,000 per employee.  In this economy, our fragile businesses cannot accept any new regulatory costs,” said Mark Dobbins, Chairman of the Arizona Manufacturers Council.  “A moratorium will allow state agencies to focus on their core mission and help businesses recover more quickly during this time of economic crisis.”

Arizona Business

HB 2401, sponsored by Representative Vic Williams (R, LD-26) and passed with bi-partisan support, would reinstate the Administrative Rules Oversight Committee (AROC), a bi-partisan committee that was designed to review Arizona’s regulatory system with the goal of making it more efficient and effective.

“By reinstating the AROC, the state legislature will create a competitive regulatory environment for Arizona businesses in all industry sectors,” explained Allison Bell, Vice President of Government Relations for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  “It will provide a forum for regulators and the regulated community to work together to avoid onerous and duplicative regulations.”

Dobbins concluded on the net effect of today’s actions:  “Governor Brewer and the Arizona legislature are enacting policies that will shield job creators from unnecessary costs.  These actions will make Arizona a more attractive location in which to do business and a model for economic recovery that many states will attempt to emulate.”

HB 2240 and HB 2401 are two of three Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Arizona Manufacturers Council priority bills that were moved forward today in the Arizona House of Representatives.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to advancing Arizona’s competitive position in the global economy by advocating free-market policies that stimulate economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans.

The Arizona Manufacturers Council is the recognized voice of manufacturing in Arizona and the state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

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