Baker, in a March 31 directive to all state agencies, is requiring a yearlong review of nearly all state regulations, with a mandate that none should exceed federal requirements, which in many cases are far less stringent than the state’s. He wants only regulations that do not “unduly and adversely affect Massachusetts citizens and customers of the Commonwealth.”
The order, which has drawn early support from some business interests, suggests that many current state regulations have imposed “unnecessary cost, burden, and complexity.”
Critics, however, say such rollbacks mean Massachusetts stands to lose its reputation for imposing some of the strictest regulatory standards in a host of areas, from environmental protection and climate change to occupational safety, consumer protections, and oversight of health providers.
