United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 4771 (103rd)
Federal Mandate Accountability and Reform Act of 1994
Introduced
14 July 1994
Last action
5 October 1994 · Committee
Status
For Further Action See H.R.5128.
Sponsors
Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-11], JOHN CONYERS, Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8], Rep. Barrett, Thomas M. [D-WI-5], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10]
Subjects
Taxation, Budget
Source updated
26 August 2025
Summary
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Legislative Accountability and Reform Title II: Regulatory Accountability and Reform Title III: Judicial Review Title IV: Baseline Study Federal Mandate Accountability and Reform Act of 1994 - Title I: Legislative Accountability and Reform - Requires each congressional committee of authorization to issue with every reported bill containing a Federal mandate an analysis of the fiscal impact of that mandate on State, local, and tribal governments, especially to the extent it: (1) imposes new enforceable duties; or (2) reduces or eliminates Federal financial assistance. (Sec. 102) Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to study and report on any proposed legislation establishing, amending, or reauthorizing any Federal program likely to have a significant budgetary impact on State, local, or tribal governments, especially any direct costs below or above $50 million threshold. Authorizes appropriations to CBO to conduct such studies. (Sec. 103) Provides for a point of order against any reported legislation unless it has a CBO Director report and either: (1) the direct costs of all Federal mandates in the legislation are estimated at less than $50 million in each of up to five fiscal years; or (2) the increase in authorization of appropriations under existing or for new Federal financial assistance programs provided by the legislation and usable by State, local, or tribal governments for mandate-subject activities is at least equal to the estimated direct costs of the mandates; and (3) the committee of jurisdiction has identified a reduction in authorization of existing appropriations, a reduction in direct spending, or an increase in receipts. Title II: Regulatory Accountability and Reform - Requires each agency to: (1) assess the effects of Federal regulations on State, local, and tribal governments, including the availability of resources to carry out any mandates in those regulations; and (2) seek to minimize those burdens that uniquely or significantly affect such governmental entities, consistent with achieving statutory and regulatory objectives. (Sec. 201) Directs each agency to develop an effective process to permit elected officials and other representatives of State, local, and tribal governments to provide meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory proposals. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 202) Requires each agency to prepare a written statement of specified estimates before promulgating any notice of proposed rulemaking or final rule including Federal mandates that may result in aggregate State, local, or tribal expenditures of $100 million or more in any one year. (Sec. 203) Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect such statements and forward copies to the CBO Director. (Sec. 204) Requires the OMB Director to establish pilot programs in at least two agencies to test innovative and more flexible regulatory approaches that: (1) reduce reporting and compliance burdens on small governments; and (2) meet overall statutory goals and objectives. Title III: Judicial Review - Declares that any reports or statements prepared under this Act, any compliance or noncompliance with it, and any determination concerning its applicability shall not be subject to judicial review. Title IV: Baseline Study - Requires the Director of the Bureau of the Census to examine the measurement and definition issues involved in calculating the total costs and benefits to State, local, and tribal governments of compliance with Federal law. Requires such study to consider the feasibility of measuring indirect costs and benefits as well as the direct costs and benefits of the Federal, State, local, and tribal relationship. Authorizes appropriations.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
14 July 1994
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Government Operations.
Source: IntroReferral
14 July 1994
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
14 July 1994
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
20 July 1994
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations.
Source: Committee
11 August 1994
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
11 August 1994
Committee
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Source: Committee
5 October 1994
Committee
For Further Action See H.R.5128.
Source: Committee
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Introduced in House · 14 July 1994 · Official file
Documents
3 official files
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 14 July 1994
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 14 July 1994
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 14 July 1994
Sponsors
- Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-11] · D · Sponsor
- JOHN CONYERS · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Barrett, Thomas M. [D-WI-5] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10] · D · Sponsor
- · hsgo00 · Standing
- · hsru00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Expressing the sense of Congress that Federal mandates to States should be rescinded unless they are accompanied by sufficient funds to pay for them.
- related to → Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives respecting unfunded mandates.
- related to → Federal Mandate Relief Act of 1993
- related to → To provide that no State or local government shall be obligated to take any action required by Federal law enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act unless the expenses of such government in taking such action are funded by the United States.
- related to → Intergovernmental Mandate Relief Act of 1993
- related to → Mandate and Community Assistance Reform Act
- related to → FAIR Act
- related to → Federal Mandate Reduction, Reform, and Budget Act of 1993
- related to ← Federal Mandates Relief for State and Local Government Act of 1994
Showing 9 of 12 related records.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/4771
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/103/hr/4771
- us · 103-hr-4771 · source updated 26 August 2025