More, Please! (More Of Less)
I actually checked the date on this to make sure it wasn't an April Fools article, and no, it's not.

It'll never happen in California, but should it ever!

James Broughel writes at Mercatus:

Something rather remarkable just happened in Idaho. The state legislature opted to--in essence--repeal the entire state regulatory code. The cause may have been dysfunction across legislative chambers, but the result is serendipitous. A new governor is presented with an unprecedented opportunity to repeal an outdated and burdensome regulatory code and replace it with a more streamlined and sensible set of rules. Other states should be paying close attention.

The situation came about due to the somewhat unconventional nature of Idaho's regulatory process. Each year, the state's entire existing body of regulations expires unless reauthorized for an additional year by the legislature. In most years, reauthorization happens smoothly, but not this year.

Instead, the legislature wrapped up an acrimonious session in April without passing a rule-reauthorization bill. As a result, come July 1, some 8,200 pages of regulations containing 736 chapters of state rules will expire. Any rules the governor opts to keep will have to be implemented as emergency regulations, and the legislature will consider them anew when it returns next January.

...The new scenario creates multiple touch points when rules could end up on the cutting room floor. First, when regulations expire on July 1, many will not be refiled. Second, the public will have the opportunity to comment on regulations that are resubmitted. In some cases, public hearings are likely to take place, presenting another opportunity to reshape, and cut, some regulations. Finally, when the legislature returns next year, it will need to pass a reauthorization bill for those regulations Governor Little's administration wants kept. Even more red tape can be trimmed then.

Of course, many regulations serve a justified purpose. The challenge for the Little administration will be to hone in on those rules that add costs disproportionate to any benefits produced, whilst preserving and perhaps even strengthening any rules that are working well.

He notes that this highlights the benefits of sunset provisions -- provisions for laws to expire and need re-upping, by going through the process all over again.

There's a cost to this:

The main constraint now facing Idaho state agencies is time--they could use more of it. Regulators have just two months to decide which rules should stay and which should go.

Sadly, it might require legislators to actually legislate. I'm sure that will be very difficult and unpleasant for many.