Committee advances bill requiring agencies to cite rule source within 10 days of enforcement

Senate Bill 2258 would require a state agency that imposes an official notice, determination or order on a person to provide, on request, the specific rule citation or statutory reference within 10 days.

Supporters told the Government and Veterans Affairs Committee the measure is meant to let regulated parties verify that an enforcement action is based on a published rule or statute. Senator Todd Beard, the bill sponsor, said the proposal grew from a dispute over how childcare training hours were counted when providers renew licenses: "When the applicant, applies for their renewal of license, then they can't count any training hours from that point on until their license arrives...I said, I wanna give them time...if an agency is imposing an official notice, determination order, or action, and...that person, if they request the...where did it come from, then the agency within 10 days have to provide that information."

The committee spent much of its questioning on how the 10‑day requirement would be implemented and whether responses must be "in writing" and measured in business days. Several members urged adding a written‑record requirement so there is a traceable record of what the agency provided; Senator Beard said he had purposely left the delivery method to the agency but would not oppose clarifying language. Representative Van Winkle asked about enforcement if an agency failed to respond; Beard said the bill as enacted contains no penalty and that remedies would rely on other administrative processes or later legislative action. Representative Wolf, who questioned the bill's current scope, told the sponsor he felt the bill "took all the teeth out" when it was simplified on the Senate floor.

Committee members suggested nonlegislative steps such as educating agencies on the new requirement and notifying the administrative rules committee so agencies understand the change. Representative Carls proposed asking the administrative rules committee to brief agencies on the requirement. Senator Beard said he would prefer leaving any punitive measures for a later time if follow‑up demonstrates a problem.

On a motion moved by Representative Van Winkle and seconded by Representative McLeod, the committee voted to pass the bill. The roll call and announcement record 14 yes votes; there was no recorded committee amendment adding a penalty at this hearing.

The hearing record includes several references to the Attorney General's Office and to state statute generally; the bill as discussed does not cite a specific statute number for a new enforcement penalty. The committee closed the hearing after the recorded vote.