Sen. Lowe advances Regulatory Freedom Act after industry testimony and debate

Senator Lowe, the bill sponsor, told the committee the Regulatory Freedom Act of 2026 seeks to bring more transparency and upfront impact analysis to rulemaking by requiring agencies to seek feedback from regulated communities and by identifying rules that exceed a $1,000,000 threshold over five years for additional legislative review. "This sets that market 1000000 dollars over 5 years and allows for the process for us to look at those things independently," he said.

The committee heard questions about whether the bill focuses strictly on financial impact or also captures qualitative benefits. Sen. Lowe said the bill quantifies what can be quantified while keeping traditional testimony and qualitative assessments in place: "We still have to do that, but we can quantify expense to an industry." Members pressed whether the requirement creates additional administrative burden; witnesses said agencies and the administration had been consulted and described the bill's fiscal note as insignificant.

Stakeholders testified in support. Kevin Hensley of the Tennessee Farm Bureau said the bill gives regulated communities a stronger voice in the rulemaking process. Jack Powers of Beacon Impact framed the measure as protecting individual freedom from unnecessary regulation. Michael Lott of Americans for Prosperity told the committee the bill provides "more oversight and control to the state's most expensive regulations." After testimony and back-and-forth, the committee recorded a roll vote (6 ayes, 1 no, 2 absent) and advanced the bill to the next committee.