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Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) announced that Senate Bill 1204 has passed the California State Senate, marking an important step toward increasing transparency and legislative oversight in the state’s regulatory process.
SB 1204 requires the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) to report to the Legislature within 60 days whenever it disapproves a proposed regulation, including the reasons for that decision.
“Greater transparency leads to better policy. The Legislature cannot effectively do its job without full visibility into the regulatory process,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “SB 1204 ensures that when major regulations are rejected, lawmakers are informed and can respond appropriately on behalf of the people we represent.”
The OAL plays a key role in reviewing regulations from more than 200 state agencies to ensure they meet standards for clarity, necessity, and legal validity. However, under current law, when the OAL disapproves a regulation, it is only returned to the agency without any requirement to notify the Legislature.
This gap in communication limits transparency and can leave lawmakers unaware of significant regulatory actions and their potential impacts.
SB 1204 addresses this issue by requiring formal reporting to the Legislature, giving policymakers better insight into regulatory decisions and improving accountability across state government.
SB 1204 now moves to the Assembly.