Modernizing Retrospective Regulatory Review

HR67, the "Modernizing Retrospective Regulatory Review Act," mandates the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to issue guidance within 18 months for federal agencies on identifying, procuring, and using technology, including algorithmic tools and artificial intelligence, to review existing regulations. This includes identifying obsolete, ineffective, or redundant regulations. Additionally, OIRA must report within 180 days on the progress of making federal regulations available in a machine-readable format. This bill creates a direct demand for technology solutions in the federal government for regulatory analysis and data management. The money trail for this initiative will flow through federal agency procurement budgets. Agencies will be directed to acquire technology and training for their personnel. Companies with established federal contracting divisions and expertise in AI, natural language processing, and large-scale data management are positioned to capture these contracts. This includes major enterprise software providers and cloud service providers with government-specific offerings. The bill does not specify an appropriation amount, but the mandate for technology adoption implies significant procurement over time as agencies implement the guidance. Historically, government mandates for technology adoption have led to increased spending and contract awards. For example, the 2002 E-Government Act pushed federal agencies towards digital services, leading to a sustained increase in IT spending. While not directly comparable in scope, the current bill's focus on AI for regulatory review mirrors this pattern of mandated technological modernization. The passage of the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) in 2014 also drove significant IT modernization efforts across agencies, benefiting government contractors. While specific market reactions to these past legislative actions are difficult to isolate due to broader market dynamics, they consistently created new revenue streams for technology providers. Specific winners include major technology companies with strong government contracting arms. Microsoft ($MSFT) through its Azure Government cloud and AI services, Google ($GOOGL) with its Google Cloud Public Sector, IBM ($IBM) with its AI and consulting services, and Oracle ($ORCL) with its government-focused database and cloud solutions, are all well-positioned. These companies already possess the infrastructure, security clearances, and existing relationships to bid on and secure these new contracts. Companies specializing in regulatory technology (RegTech) and AI-driven compliance solutions will also see increased demand. Losers are not directly identifiable, but agencies failing to adopt these technologies will face compliance issues. The timeline is clear: OIRA must report on machine-readable regulations within 180 days of enactment, and guidance on technology use for retrospective reviews must be issued within 18 months. This means procurement processes for new technologies will begin within the next 1.5 to 2 years, creating a sustained demand for relevant services and products.