RENO - Gov. Brian Sandoval told the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce Thursday that the review of state regulations has been completed and will result in the repeal of 654 regulations and updates to another 1,100.
Sandoval's first executive order when he took office was to impose a one year freeze on new regulations and direct his Cabinet to review all regulations to see if they still are needed and whether they adversely affect businesses.
"I am pleased to report that as a result of my executive order, we are now poised to repeal, condense or modernize over 1,700 regulations," he said.
He said the majority of the rules slated for repeal - 352 - are in just three departments that directly impact businesses and individuals: Business and Industry, DMV and Taxation.
Sandoval said his agencies also have been told that every proposed regulation going forward must include an explanation of how the rule meets the priority to keep Nevada's economy moving.
"My office will provide a thorough review of the rule-making process to ensure government doesn't get in the way of job growth," he said.
He said his office will produce more details in coming days but "we just kind of wanted to tease it for today."
Some of the general rules and regulations that Sandoval said his office took aim at included limiting duplicitous business registration requirements and modifying the way prevailing wage rules work. Now, he said, the wage rules put rural counties that border urban cores in Washoe and Clark counties at a disadvantage, so he changed what the rules take into account.
At the same chamber event, several members of an economic development panel railed against regulations that Sandoval sought to rework.
Craig Mataczynski, CEO of geothermal energy developer Gradient Resources, said he's proposed that permitting agencies should streamline the process and remove duplicitous filing requirements but, "when I bring that up, they look at me like I'm from Jupiter."
"You always go into it with a nine month schedule," he said of getting the proper permits. "Which becomes a 14 month schedule, which becomes 27 months before anything gets done."
Mike Kazmierski, president and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, praised Sandoval's efforts. He said, without them, regulations will pile up and continue to be enforced even after their usefulness has expired.
"I almost stood up and applauded when the governor said he and his team will be eliminating over 600 regulations in the next couple of weeks. It's like wow. But what about the next 6,000? But 600 is a great start," Kazmierski said, adding: "I can't wait to send out 1,500 or 2,000 postcards that say Nevada just eliminated 600 regulations. That stands out. That says business-friendly."
Sandoval said in an interview that "it may be a bit premature" to speculate that the cut to the rules and regulations will result in new businesses coming to the area. His chief of staff, Heidi Gansert, said the cost of the move is typically what holds businesses back.
Sandoval noted that the state's $10 million catalyst fund could help with those costs but that it hasn't been used yet.