ATLANTA – The implementation of new state laws could be delayed under new legislation working its way through the Georgia Senate.

State agencies interpret new laws by adopting rules that implement them. The “Red Tape Rollback” would require the state to produce an analysis of any rule that could cost the public or local governments at least $1 million to comply with during the first five years.

Lawmakers then could call for a review of the rule. The state agency that wrote the rule would be unable to implement it without legislative approval.

Senate Bill 28 would also empower lawmakers to call for a review of the impact of any proposed legislation on businesses with 300 or fewer employees. And the bill calls for periodic reviews of existing rules.

“We’re trying to get agencies and rule makers to think about the cost of complying with the rules and finding ways when possible to minimize that cost,” Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, the chief sponsor of the bill, told members of a Senate committee Wednesday.

Democrats said the proposal was a vastly expanded version of a similar bill they supported last year. Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs, said it basically says Republicans don’t trust state agencies. If the measure were to become law, it would undermine regulatory oversight, he said.

“One person’s red tape is another person’s due process,” McLaurin said.

Sen. Sheikh Rahman, D-Lawrenceville, noted that Republicans have largely been in control of state government for two decades, so this bill seeks to roll back their own rules.

Dolezal agreed, saying “administrative state” growth has occurred under both GOP and Democratic rule.

The bill passed the GOP-controlled Senate committee in a 7-4 vote Wednesday and now heads to the Senate Rules Committee and then possibly to the full Senate.