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S 1538 112th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory procedures Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits Congressional oversight Economic performance and conditions Environmental regulatory procedures Unemployment

Regulatory Time-Out Act of 2011

Introduced: September 13, 2011 Introduced by: Collins, Susan M. Republican · Maine See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 12, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Sep 12, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5500-5503)
Sep 12, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Regulatory Time-Out Act of 2011 - Suspends the effective date of certain covered regulations for one-year beginning on the enactment of this Act.  Defines a "covered regulation" as a final regulation that did not take effect before September 1, 2011, that increases costs on businesses in a manner that will have an adverse effect on job creation, job retention, productivity, competitiveness, or the efficient functioning of the economy, and that is likely to: (1) have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) adversely affect in a material way the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities; (3) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action by another agency; (4) materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients; or (5) raise novel legal or policy issues.

Allows agency heads to exempt covered regulations that: (1) are necessary due to an imminent threat to human health or safety or any other emergency; (2) are necessary to enforce criminal laws, (3) foster private sector job creation; (4) encourage economic growth; (5) reduce regulatory burdens; (6) pertain to a military or foreign affairs function; or (7) are limited to interpreting, implementing, or administering the Internal Revenue Code.

What's happening now September 12, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Related & companion bills 3
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1538: Regulatory Time-Out Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1538/
MLA
"S. 1538: Regulatory Time-Out Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1538/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1538, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1538/.
Markdown link
[S. 1538: Regulatory Time-Out Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1538/)
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