Virginia's 'DOGE': How Reev Bull Cut Regulations by 25% and Saved $1.2 Billion

Virginia's Office of Regulatory Management

• 🎯 The Office of Regulatory Management (ORM) in Virginia, led by Director Reev Bull, operates with a lean staff of four people.
• 🏛️ Created by executive order, the ORM's primary goal is to make Virginia's regulatory process as lean and efficient as possible.
• 📈 The office was tasked with cutting regulatory requirements by 25%, a goal they are set to achieve early.

Impact on Businesses and Economy

• 💰 The ORM has achieved an estimated $1.2 billion in annual savings through regulatory reduction.
• 🛠️ These savings disproportionately benefit small businesses, which often struggle to navigate complex regulatory codes.
• 📉 Reduced regulatory burdens lead to less competition, potentially higher costs for consumers, and fewer choices.
• 🚀 Conversely, streamlining regulations can foster market dynamism, making it easier for businesses to operate and hire.

Streamlining Professional Licensing

• 💇‍♀️ In the professional licensing space, the ORM has sped up the process for becoming a barber, electrician, or plumber.
• 💅 Training requirements for professions like cosmetology have been significantly reduced, from 1500 to 1000 hours.
• 🌍 Universal licensing is being implemented, allowing out-of-state professionals to obtain a Virginia license more easily.
• 🩺 These reforms are particularly helpful in addressing critical shortages in professions like nursing.

Agency Buy-In and Future Outlook

• ✅ Virginia's agencies have largely bought into the process, recognizing that reducing red tape also makes their jobs easier.
• 💡 Streamlined codes reduce confusion, lead to fewer inquiries, and make compliance more straightforward for both the public and agency officials.
• 🤖 The ORM is piloting the use of artificial intelligence to scan regulations, potentially speeding up the reform process.
• 📜 While currently created by executive order, there's discussion about memorializing the office into statute to ensure its longevity and continued work on regulatory reform.

Advice for Other States

• 🗺️ Key to success is setting a clear, quantifiable target (e.g., 25% reduction).
• 🧑‍💼 A dedicated, centralized team or office is crucial to work with agencies and oversee progress.
• ⚡ States can leverage artificial intelligence from the outset to accelerate the identification and reduction of regulations.