Del. Jason Ballard
Virginia General Assembly
Reducing and ultimately eliminating burdensome regulations has long been a priority of Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly. You would be stunned by the number of outdated rules created by state government across decades that either contradict current Virginia statute or unnecessarily constrict business or personal growth. That is why we work hard in Richmond to cut this red tape – Republicans know that in many cases, government works best for you when it simply stays out of the way. This is why Governor Glenn Youngkin’s announcement earlier this month of a 25% reduction in state regulatory requirements is so exciting and an achievement worth celebrating.
On June 30, 2022, Governor Youngkin issued Executive Order 19, creating the Office of Regulatory Management (ORM) tasked with streamlining the regulatory process, increasing transparency, reviewing existing regulations, and reducing the overall regulatory burden on the public. EO 19 set a goal of achieving a 25% cut in regulations—a goal which has now been surpassed. As of July 8, Virginia agencies have streamlined 26.8% of regulatory requirements. These requirements that the Commonwealth have placed on businesses and individuals have had a massive impact on the average cost of living, and some changes will be felt immediately. For example, regulatory reforms in the state building code have cut the average construction cost for new homes by at least $24,000. This amounts to huge savings for both businesses and consumers and encourages economic activity by saving homebuyers $700 million dollars annually.
Republicans are not content to stop here. Virginia is on track to reduce regulatory requirements by 33%, which will create even more savings for consumers and business owners alike. The governor’s administration also recently announced that it would be supplementing its regulatory review with Artificial Intelligence (AI), which will be the first time that any state has done so. Using AI as a tool for government efficiency means all regulations and guidance documents can be quickly assessed and marked for redundancies, contradictions with state code, and anything else that can streamline efficiency.
Cutting red tape and eliminating outdated and burdensome regulations is just one example of Virginia Republicans standing by our promise to make state government more efficient. We have been able to accomplish this task in a responsible, measured way that impacts the lives of everyday Virginians for the better, and I will continue to support government efficiency as your representative in the Virginia House of Delegates.
As the Delegate representing the 42nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, your concerns are my greatest priority. If ever I may be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at DelJBallard@House.Virginia.Gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @JasonBallardVA or like my Facebook page, Jason Ballard for Delegate, to keep up to date with what I am doing in Richmond and in our community on your behalf.
