TEXAS (KXII) – On Wednesday, for the first time during this 89th Legislative Session, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law.
Senate Bill 14 creates a permanent Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office under the Office of the Governor.
The new office will be run be a panel appointed by the governor, which will be supported by a staff of up to 18 employees.
Governor Abbott dubbed the new office “Texas DOGE.”
“Altogether, what this law is going to do is to make government more efficient and less costly,” he said during the signing. “Texas DOGE will lead to spending cuts, regulation cuts and a more user friendly government.”
As outlined in SB 14, “Texas DOGE” will focus on cutting costs and identifying unnecessary rules and regulations within the state government.
According to the last available fiscal report, over the next five years, the agency will cost nearly $23 million to operate.
It is also unclear how “Texas DOGE” will work with the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, an agency created by the Texas Sunset Act in 1977.
The Sunset Commission monitors government efficiency through rotating department, agency, and program reviews.
Since it’s inception, the Sunset Commission has completely abolished or transferred powers from 95 agencies and programs.
At the signing, Governor Abbott said “Texas DOGE” will make the state government more accessible.
“It will make it easier for our fellow Texans, average Texans, to deal with their own state government,” he said. “Regulatory reform is now law in the state of Texas.”
Oklahoma created a state-government version of DOGE earlier this year, though it’s only temporary and expires in 2026.
News 12 will continue to track “Texas DOGE” as it gets underway later this year.
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