Oklahoma governor orders agencies to reduce regulations

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is ordering state agencies to reduce what he says are excessive regulations and red tape.

In an executive order announced on Tuesday, Stitt directed all state agencies to undertake a review of administrative rules and identify any that are duplicative or outdated.

His order also calls for state agencies to remove two regulations for each new one created.

“In order for us to become a Top Ten State, we must reduce outdated and burdensome regulations that overshadow our economy, while protecting those regulations necessary to preserve public health, welfare, and safety,” Stitt said in a statement. “Our goal is to reduce red tape by 25% in the next three years, providing relief to Oklahoma’s job creators and farmers and ranchers while also strengthening our recruitment efforts to diversify and grow Oklahoma’s economy.”

Stitt says Oklahoma’s administrative code is twice the size of the state of Kansas and 20% more than Missouri and New Mexico.