Governor Doug Ducey today signed an executive order renewing a moratorium on all new regulatory rulemaking by state agencies in Arizona – the fifth year in a row the moratorium has been issued. The order provides Arizona businesses certainty while restricting the unchecked expansion of government that can stifle innovation and job growth.

Governor Ducey’s first action in office was issuing the initial moratorium, which fulfilled a key campaign promise to expand our state’s economy by creating a stable regulatory environment and reducing the burden on small businesses. The governor reissued the order in early 2016, 2017 and 2018.

“As Arizonans navigate the free market, the last thing they need is for government to get in the way,” said Governor Ducey. “Reducing regulatory burdens on businesses in Arizona is essential to growth, and I want all of our current and aspiring entrepreneurs to know that Arizona will continue to encourage your success, not stand in your way.”

In 2017, Governor Ducey launched RedTape.AZ.Gov – an online service that empowers Arizonans to make recommendations about how to update our state’s regulatory system. The innovative program allows individuals across the state to recommend ways to improve or eliminate outdated (often-hidden) regulations directly to the Governor’s Office at no cost to them or to their business. In addition, in his 2017 State of the State address, Governor Ducey called for eliminating 500 regulations by year’s end. In 2018, Arizona met and exceeded that goal, eliminating 676 regulations, resulting in over $48 million worth of savings to the Arizona economy. Over 2017 and 2018, Arizona has wiped out a total of 1,098 regulations, saving job creators over $79 million.

A PDF of the executive order can be viewed HERE.