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In one of her first actions after being sworn in, Governor Mikie
Sherrill signed a number of Executive Orders to implement a
number of strategic initiatives aimed at modernizing and
simplifying the State's regulatory and permitting systems to
allow for a more transparent, efficient and forward facing
government. Executive Order 4 established the position of
Chief Operating Officer who will establish
working groups across a number of State departments and disciplines
to establish streamlined processes and regulations to enhance the
priorities and economic goals of the Administration.
In immediately taking the Administration's strategic priorities
further, Executive Order 5 established a Cross-Agency
Permitting Team and Regulatory Simplification Team, under the
Strategic Initiative & Economic Opportunity Office, who will
identify specific pieces of legislation to correct inefficiencies
in the permitting and regulatory processes but also develop
standardized permitting frameworks and timelines to better manage
and integrate all levels of permitting. As part of the
modernization goal, every Executive Branch department will provide
a catalog of all types of permits it issues providing specific
measurables to allow for the identification of corrective actions
to advance the Administration's strategies. The introduction of
an application process "Shot Clock" consistent existing
statutory and regulatory frameworks will not create any additional
enforceable legal standards but be used as a standard with the
intention of creating a more efficient process.
To further allow for the new COO and Cross-Agency Permitting and Regulatory Simplification Team the provided these findings, Executive Order 7 institutes a 90-day pause on all State Agencies ability to propose or adopt any new rule or regulation. Any State Agency that has any proposed rules or regulations currently pending, it will need to notify the Governor's Office by February 2 as to why non-adoption would adversely impact public health/safety or security of which the Governor may then consider to lift the pause for that specific proposal.
Although still in its infancy, Governor Sherrill's administration has shown and is taking concrete steps to establish a more modernized permitting and regulatory process allowing for a faster and more affordable way to capitalize on economic opportunities across the State.
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