Background

Government regulations and red tape can be a tremendous barrier to small business growth. Small businesses' regulatory compliance costs are 36 percent higher than large businesses so it is no surprise that regulations consistently rank as a top concern for small business owners. Roughly 3,300 regulations are in the pipeline this year and many of them will affect small businesses. 

Below are regulatory proposals that have been published in the Federal Register and are open for public comment. An agency publishes an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) with a proposed rule if it expects that the rule will have a significant economic impact on substantial number of small businesses. The IRFA provides information about the potential effects of the proposed rule on small businesses.  

Agencies' initial analyses of small business impacts are not always correct or complete, so the Committee on Small Business encourages small businesses to file comments through the government's online portal, Regulations.gov, and tell federal agencies how the regulatory proposal will affect them. If you provide input to an agency, please feel free to share your concerns with the Committee through our Open Mic page.



 
Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power Plants

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA has issued proposed emission guidelines for states to follow in developing plans to address greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants.  State-specific emissions goals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector are included in the proposal.  States will establish standards that could affect small public power utilities and rural electric cooperatives. (Published 6-18-2014)

IRFA - NO | COMMENTS DUE 12-1-2014

Produce Safety

Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA has proposed a revision to its proposed rule, issued in January 2013, that would establish standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption.  Farms would be subject to the rule which includes water quality standards and related testing and recordkeeping provisions. The FDA is seeking comment on its proposed revisions to the proposed rule. (Published 9-29-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-15-2014

Government Contractor Employee Compensation Report

Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)

The OFCCP has issued a proposed rule that would require certain federal government contractors and subcontractors to submit an annual report with information on compensation paid to employees by sex, race, ethnicity, and specified job categories. Certain small contractors and subcontractors with more than 100 employees would be affected. (Published 8-8-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 1-5-2014



Basic Health Program Federal Funding Methodology

Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

The CMS has issued a proposed methodology to determine federal payment amounts made in 2016 to states that elect to establish a Basic Health Program under the Affordable Care Act.  The agency is uncertain if the proposal will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small hospitals and seeks comment on its expected impact. (Published 10-23-2014)

IRFA - NO | COMMENTS DUE 11-24-2014

Assessment and Collection of Fees for FY 2013 and 2014

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC has issued a proposed rule on regulatory fees.  The proposed rule seeks comment both on how to ensure compliance with a regulatory fee requirement for toll free numbers, as well as the impact of a new direct broadcast satellite regulatory fee category. The agency expects the proposal to potentially raise fees on thousands of small wired telecommunications carriers, local carriers, and interexchange carriers and prepaid calling providers.  (Published 10-27-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 11-26-2014

Captioning and Audio Description for Movie Theaters

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The DOJ has issued a proposed rule that would require movie theaters to provide closed captioning and audio description at all times.  Movie theaters would also need to have a certain number of individual closed captioning and audio description devices available, unless it would result in an undue burden or fundamental alteration.  Movie theater firms, 98 percent of which are small, would be affected. (Published 8-1-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-1-2014

Energy Conservation Standards for Small, Large, and Very Large Air-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioning and Heating Equipment

Department of Energy (DOE)

The DOE has issued a proposed rule to amend the energy conservation standards for small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment.  Small manufacturers, those with 750 employees or less, may be disproportionately affected by product conversion costs which include product redesign, testing, and certification costs.  The DOE requests comments and data on the impact of the proposed standard on small manufacturers. (Published 9-30-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-1-2014

Flounder Accountability Measures

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The NOAA has issued two proposed modifications to the windowpane flounder accountability measures to help prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks. The agency seeks comment on how the proposal will affect small commercial fishing harvesting entities in the Northeast multispecies limited access fishery. (Published 11-17-2015)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-2-2014

Irish Potatoes Grown in Colorado

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)


The USDA has issued a proposed rule that would increase the quantity of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado that may be handled under the Colorado potato marketing order, from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds.  The agency estimates that nearly 500 small handlers, producers, and importers of potatoes could be subject to the proposal and seeks comment on its expected impact. (Published 10-6-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-5-2014

Late Payment Charges for Processed Raspberries

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

The AMS has issued a proposed rule that would allow the National Processed Raspberry Council to collect late payment and interest charges on past due assessments.  The agency estimates that over 300 producers, handlers, and importers of processed raspberries could be subject to the proposal and invites comment on its expected impact. (Published 11-12-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-12-2014

Preventive Controls for Human Food

Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)


The FDA has proposed a revision to its proposed rule, issued in January 2013, that would modernize its current good manufacturing practice requirements and add requirements for certain domestic and foreign facilities to establish and implement hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls for human food.  Covered facilities would be required to maintain a food safety plan, perform a hazard analysis, and to institute preventive controls for the mitigation of those hazards.  The FDA is seeking comment on its proposed revisions to the proposed rule. (Published 9-29-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-15-2014

Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals

Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA has proposed revisions to its proposed rule, issued in July 2013, on foreign supplier verification programs for importers of food for humans and animals.  The proposed requirements concerning compliance status review of food and foreign suppliers, hazard analysis, and supplier verification activities have been changed.  The FDA is seeking comment on its proposed revisions to the proposed rule. (Published 9-29-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-15-2014

Preventive Controls for Animal Food

Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)


The FDA has proposed revisions to its proposed rule on preventive controls for animal food that was issued in October 2013.  The proposed rule would require certain domestic and foreign facilities to establish and implement hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls for food for animals.  The FDA is seeking comment on its proposed revisions to the proposed rule. (Published 9-29-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-15-2014

Licensing and Operating Rules for Satellite Services

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC has issued a proposed rule to amend its rules governing licensing and operation of space stations and earth stations for provision of satellite communication services.  The agency expects that small satellite telecommunications firms, those with $32.5 million or less in annual receipts, and some earth station applicants and licensees that qualify as small firms, would be affected.  (Published 10-31-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-15-2014

Prohibitions Against Pay Secrecy Policies and Actions

Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)

The OFCCP has issued a proposed rule that would prohibit federal contractors from discharging or discriminating against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their own compensation or the compensation of another employee or applicant.  The agency estimates compliance costs would be less than three percent of the average revenue of small contractors but seeks feedback on its analysis. (Published 9-17-2014) 

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-16-2014

Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The NOAA has proposed an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and Atlantic Region.  The proposal would affect all commercial and for-hire fishing vessels that harvest the coastal migratory pelagic species managed in the Gulf and Atlantic regions. (Published 10-17-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-16-2014

Honey Packers and Importers Assessment Rate Increase

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service

The USDA has issued a proposed rule that would increase the assessment rate from $0.01 per pound to $0.015 per pound on honey and honey products, over a two-year period.  The agency expects over 600 importers and 40 first-handlers of honey to be affected by the proposed rule. (Published 11-18-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-18-2014

Requirements for Dental Practices to Control Discharges of Mercury

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)


The EPA has issued a proposed rule that would require dental practices to comply with requirements for controlling the discharge of mercury and other metals in dental filling material into publicly owned treatment works.  The EPA estimates that over 109,000 small dental offices are potentially subject to this proposal.(Published 10-22-2014) 

IRFA - NO | COMMENTS DUE 12-22-2014

Red Snapper Management Measures

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The NOAA has issued a proposed rule that would revise the recreational accountability measures and establish a recreational annual catch target for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico.  The agency seeks comment on how the proposal will affect the over 1,000 small vessel operators that it expects will be subject. (Published 11-21-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-22-2014

Importation of Beef From Argentina

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

The USDA has issued a proposed rule to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from northern Argentina.  Small United States beef producers would be affected. (Published 10-31-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-29-2014

Update of Competitive Bidding Rules

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC has issued a proposed rule that would revise its rules governing competitive bidding for spectrum licenses to reflect changes in the marketplace, including the challenges faced by new entrants.  The agency expects the proposal to potentially affect thousands of wireless telecommunications carriers and broadband providers and seeks comment on the expected impact.  (Published 11-14-2015)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-29-2014

Test Procedure for Ceiling Fans

Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

The EERE has issued a proposed rule that would revise the statutory definition of a ceiling fan to include hugger ceiling fans (those typically understood to be set flush to the ceiling) and to amend its test procedure for ceiling fans.  If the proposed rule is finalized, small ceiling fan manufacturers would incur additional compliance costs associated with testing ceiling fans. (Published 10-17-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 12-31-2014

Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds

Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Acquisition Regulations System

The DOD has issued a proposed rule to further implement inflation adjustment of acquisition-related dollar thresholds. While the agency does not expect small businesses to face a significant economic impact, it does expect that the proposed rule will affect small federal contractors. (Published 11-6-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 1-5-2015

Unlicensed Use of TV Band Spectrum

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC has issued a proposed for unlicensed operations in the frequency bands that are now and will continue to be allocated and assigned to broadcast television services after the incentive auction.  The agency expects over 900 small manufacturers of radio and television broadcasting equipment to be subject to the proposal.  (Published 11-21-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 1-5-2015

Spectrum Access for Wireless Microphones

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC has issued a proposed rule that seeks comments on  how to accommodate the long-term needs of wireless microphone users following the recent repurposing of broadcast television band spectrum for wireless services.  The agency expects over 400 small low power auxiliary device manufacturers and thousands of cable television providers to be in the purview of the proposal. (Published 11-21-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 1-5-2015

Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC has issued a proposed rule that would make a variety of changes to interstate and intrastate inmate calling services.  The agency expects thousands of small wired telecommunications carriers, local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, and local resellers to be potentially subject to the proposal and seeks comments on its expected effect.  (Published 11-21-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 1-5-2015

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) Data Rights and Phase III Awards

Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA is seeking comments from the public regarding planned revisions to the policy directives outlining SBIR and STTR data rights and SBIR and STTR Phase III awards.  Specifically, the agency is seeking comment on the extent to which an awardee owns the data it generates in performance of an award.  (Published 11-7-2014)

IRFA - NO | COMMENTS DUE 1-6-2015

Test Procedures for Ceiling Fan Light Kits

Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

The DOE has issued a proposed rule that would revise its test procedures for ceiling fan light kits (CFLK).  The department expects that small CFLK manufacturers would face new costs associated with new efficiency performance testing requirements for certain CFLKs.  (Published 10-31-2014)

IRFA - YES | COMMENTS DUE 1-14-2015

Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds

Department of Defense (DOD);
General Services Administration (GSA);
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)


DOD, GSA, and NASA have issued a proposed rule that would adjust acquisition-related dollar thresholds for inflation.  The agencies expect that small businesses could be affected by the proposal due to a provision that would temporarily narrow the dollar range within which acquisitions are automatically set aside for small business concerns. (Published 11-25-2014)

IRFA -YES | COMMENTS DUE 1-26-2015

Safety Standard for Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs)

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

The CPSC has issued a proposed rule that would create lateral stability and vehicle handling requirements for ROVs and require that ROVs exhibit certain steering characteristics.  The agency is aware of 20 small importers of ROVs that could be subject to the proposal and seeks comments on how they will be affected. (Published 11-19-2014)

IRFA -YES | COMMENTS DUE 2-2-2015


Regulatory Resources
 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act
Regulatory Agenda
Tips for Submitting Effective Comments