A new bill, introduced Wednesday, directs state agencies to review laws that apply to them and report to the Legislature those that are “unnecessary, obsolete or outdated.”

Sponsored by House Speaker Mike Moyle, the bill would require a report by Sept. 1. Idaho has attracted national attention in recent years, Moyle noted, for cutting administrative rules and regulations, and this bill “takes the next step.” 

Elon Musk, president-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead a new federal “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), last month tweeted data showing a sharp decline in the length of Idaho’s administrative code. 

“Idaho has been in DOGE mode for many years,” Moyle’s statement of purpose for the new bill says.

In addition to mandating that agency officials review their own relevant codes, the bill says officials “may” identify unnecessary laws applicable to other agencies. 

“It gives them the ability to help us find out what we don’t need,” Moyle, R-Star, told the House State Affairs Committee, which voted to introduce the bill. 

Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome, asked whether agency officials will have enough time to review codes by September and whether agencies will require additional staff. Moyle shrugged off the time and manpower necessary to complete the task. 

“I guarantee that you can go in some of these agencies right now…and they can tell you where the bodies are buried,” he said. “They can tell you what can come out.”