Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 14 into law on Tuesday, creating Texas’ own Regulatory Efficiency Office, now nicknamed “Texas DOGE.”
SB14 was written to change how Texas approaches regulation, with an eye on efficiency, transparency, and less bureaucracy.
“We are putting at the forefront of legislation the shaping, formation, and recalibration of government in the State of Texas to make it more responsive and more efficient,” Abbott said via press release.
“We in Texas will now have our own DOGE, known as the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office. This law will slash regulations, put stricter standards on new regulations that could be costly to businesses, and put a check on the growth of the administrative state,” the governor added.
The bill, officially titled the Regulatory Reform and Efficiency Act, was the first to land on the governor’s desk during the 89th Regular Legislative Session. Its passage is another milestone in the fight against government overreach.
Several other state officials and business leaders joined Abbott, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Senator Phil King, and Jeff Burdett of the National Federation of Independent Business.
Patrick called the law a crucial step in creating a successful future for Texas, saying, “Texas DOGE will ensure the Texas Miracle continues long into the 21st century.”
The new Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office will help identify and eliminate redundant regulations across a wide range of state agencies.
“Many of our state rules and regulations are outdated and unnecessarily burdensome, creating barriers to continued economic growth. With this legislation, we can dramatically improve our regulatory system and build a stronger Texas for the long term,” said King.
Business groups also hailed the new Texas DOGE office as a win for entrepreneurship and small businesses. Glenn Hamer, president of the Texas Association of Business, praised the law for delivering on “key recommendations” from the Governor’s Small Business Freedom Council.
“This new office delivers on a core recommendation from the Freedom Council’s report: eliminate duplicative regulations, modernize outdated processes, and reduce the burdens that hold back small business growth. The Texas DOGE effort is a model for the nation. Texas is already the best state for business—but to stay on top, we must continuously improve how government works for entrepreneurs,” said Hamer.