Slashing the Red Tape: REINing in Regulations and Empowering Latino Entrepreneurs in Georgia

By Stefanie Zaenker, Strategic Director for LIBRE- Georgia

Here in Georgia we are lucky to have a state legislature that prioritizes innovation and representative democracy above the interests of unelected bureaucrats.

We are also lucky to have a dynamic community of Latino entrepreneurs and small business owners who contribute to our thriving state economy. Georgia is consistently ranked the #1 state to do business, and by focusing on regulatory reform this legislative session our state representatives intend to keep it this way, ensuring prosperity for our diverse population.

Senate Bill 28, known as the Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025, introduced by Lt. Gov Burt Jones, recently passed the Georgia State Senate. The goal of SB 28 is to enhance legislative oversight of regulatory processes, ensuring that new and existing regulations are beneficial and not unduly burdensome. It is quite possibly the most substantive regulatory reform legislation in state history.

While Georgia’s economy is strong, this piece of legislation is timely because of our current ranking as the 26^th most regulated state in the nation, according to the Mercatus Center. This legislation aims to reform the state’s regulatory framework by introducing two key mechanisms:

1. Sunrise Review (REINS Act – Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny): For any proposed regulation expected to incur compliance costs exceeding a specified threshold, the implementing agency must conduct a comprehensive economic impact analysis. This analysis is then submitted to the legislature, which must approve the regulation through a majority vote and the Governor’s signature before it can be enacted.
2. Sunset Review: Every four years, state agencies are required to evaluate their existing regulations to assess their effectiveness, compliance with current laws, cost-benefit balance, and the potential for less restrictive alternatives.

This explanation may seem technical, but if enacted it stands to benefit Georgia’s diverse constituency in many ways. There are over 1.2 million Latinos currently living in Georgia, comprising around 11.1% of our total state population, and their growth rate is far surpassing the national average. The community has experienced significant economic growth over recent decades and today contributes 60.35 billion dollars to Georgia’s economy. This is comparable to the entire economic output of states like Vermont and Wyoming. One in four new businesses opened are Latino owned and operated.

Given this substantial economic presence, the Latino community stands to benefit from regulatory reforms that promote a more business-friendly environment. By reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, SB 28 could facilitate easier business operations, encourage entrepreneurship, and lead to job creation within the community. Enhanced legislative oversight may also ensure that regulations are fair, and consider the diverse needs of all communities, including Latinos. However, it’s essential to recognize that the impact of such regulatory reforms depends on their implementation and the specific industries affected.

Continuous engagement with the Latino community and other stakeholders is critical to ensuring that the benefits of SB 28 address the unique challenges faced by different demographic groups. On a grassroots level, prioritizing initiatives that connect the Latino community to their state representatives is a necessary step toward the community’s prosperity and an economy of mutual benefit.

Throughout the last four election cycles we have seen a marked shift to the right among Latino voters, 88% of whom still believe in the American Dream, and who prioritize issues like lowering inflation and the cost of living, along with job security. Georgia’s thriving economy is both aided by and a driving force for the Latino population boom we are experiencing. What’s good for Latinos is good for Georgia, and vice versa. Legislation like the Redtape Rollback Act will ensure that Georgia continues to set a standard for economic freedom and to attract diverse and talented entrepreneurs who will keep the Peach State the number one state to do business in the USA.