Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered state agencies to review thousands of New York regulations and laws in an effort to identify outdated rules, fees and requirements that could be modernized or eliminated.
The executive order launches what the governor's office called a statewide "Regulatory Reset," with agencies directed to look for rules that waste time, add unnecessary costs or no longer serve the public interest.
The review is part of the state's EXPRESS NY initiative and is expected to produce a first wave of actions later this year.
According to the governor's office, agencies will examine requirements that still force people to mail or fax information, submit wet signatures, provide multiple physical copies of documents, file information in person or have documents notarized.
The review will also look at fees and fines imposed on individuals and small businesses, along with mandated reports, boards, commissions and councils that agencies spend resources on but may no longer need.
The state said it is working with the Recoding America Fund, US Digital Response and Stanford University's RegLab to use AI-enabled tools in the initial review. The governor's office said agency experts and state officials will still vet recommendations before any changes move forward.
Potential reforms could advance through the regulatory and rulemaking process or through statutory changes developed with the state Legislature.
Hochul said the effort is meant to make state government work better for residents while saving time and money. She said the state is using technology and human expertise to conduct what her office described as the most comprehensive review of state laws and regulations in New York history.
The state said the review builds on earlier EXPRESS NY work, including an initial wave of 50 actions announced in June to improve government operations.
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