Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 14, also known as Texas DOGE (Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office), into law today at the Capitol, ushering in a sweeping overhaul of the state’s regulatory framework. Passed during the 89th Regular Legislative Session, the bill aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and make Texas government operations more efficient and responsive.
“We are putting at the forefront of legislation the shaping, formation, and recalibration of government in the State of Texas to make it more responsive and more efficient,” said Governor Abbott at the bill signing ceremony. “This law will slash regulations, put stricter standards on new regulations that could be costly to businesses, and put a check on the growth of the administrative state.”
The legislation, dubbed Texas DOGE, is modeled after billionaire Elon Musk’s concept for a federal Department of Government Efficiency. The Texas DOGE will review and eliminate unnecessary regulations across state agencies and recommend best practices for reducing regulatory burdens on businesses and residents.
The bill passed with bipartisan supermajorities in both the House and Senate and allocates $22.8 million to fund the office over the next five years. It will be staffed by up to 18 full-time employees, with members appointed by the governor.
Joined by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and the bill’s sponsors — Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford — Abbott praised the measure as a milestone in modernizing state government.
“This law will slash regulations, put stricter standards on new regulations that could be costly to businesses, and put a check on the growth of the administrative state,” Abbott said. “This will make government more efficient and less costly, ensuring that Texas operates at the speed of business.”
Speaker Burrows echoed the governor’s message, calling SB 14 a “first step toward 21st-century government,” and emphasized the role of regulation reform in boosting the state’s economy. “The fewer regulations we have, the more efficient they are, the easier they are to understand — is going to help Texas business and economy continue to boom,” Burrows said.
As reported by The Texas Tribune, the legislation includes a significant legal provision following the recent U.S. Supreme Court overturning of the Chevron doctrine. Under the new law, Texas courts are not required to defer to state agency interpretations of statutes when regulations are challenged in court — a move that could shift power away from agencies and toward the judiciary.
While the bill has garnered broad support among GOP leaders and business groups, it was not without opposition. Some Republicans, including Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, criticized the creation of a new agency as contrary to the bill’s stated mission.
“The point of DOGE is to cut government, reduce spending and shrink the bureaucracy,” Harrison said. “Unfortunately, this bill does the exact opposite.”
Despite pushback, SB 14 was marked as a legislative priority in the Senate and touted by Patrick as “the first proof of efficiency” under this year’s session.
Business leaders also welcomed the measure. Jeff Burdett, Texas State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business, called the law a “historic step” for small businesses. Glenn Hamer, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, said the Texas DOGE effort sets a national model for regulatory reform.
“Senate Bill 14 is a win for regulatory reform, a win for small businesses, and a win for Texas,” said Hamer.
Key Provisions of SB 14:
- Establishes the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office
- Tasks the office with reviewing and eliminating duplicative or outdated regulations
- Promotes best practices among state agencies for efficient rulemaking
- Aims to lower costs and regulatory burdens on small businesses
Other states — including Kentucky, Iowa, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and Louisiana — have adopted or are considering similar government efficiency initiatives inspired by DOGE.
