H.R. 4612: Midnight Rule Relief Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-02-25 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 480.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2016-02-25 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-7] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 480. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Midnight Rule Relief Act of 2016

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Midnight Rule Relief Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill prohibits a federal agency (excluding the Federal Election Commission, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the U.S. Postal Service) from proposing or finalizing any midnight rule unless the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget finds that it will not result in: (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices; (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete internationally; or (4) a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses. The bill defines "midnight rule" as an agency statement of general applicability and future effect that is issued during the moratorium period, that is intended to have the force and effect of law, and that is designed to: (1) implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy; or (2) describe the procedure or practice requirements of an agency. The "moratorium period" begins on the day after the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in every fourth year succeeding a presidential election and extends through January 20 of the following year in which a President is not serving a consecutive term. (Sec. 3) Such prohibition shall not apply to any deadline for, relating to, or involving any midnight rule that: (1) was established before the beginning of the moratorium period, and (2) is required to occur during the moratorium period. (Sec. 4) The bill exempts any midnight rule that the President determines is necessary: (1) because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency, (2) to enforce criminal laws, (3) to protect U.S. national security, or (4) to implement an international trade agreement. The moratorium does not apply to a midnight rule if the OIRA finds that such rule is limited to repealing an existing rule and certifies such finding in writing.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part I), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Midnight Rule Relief Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part I)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-7] · 29 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4612, Midnight Rule Relief Act of 2016 (2016-03-16)

Cosponsors on this site

Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), David Rouzer (R-NC), Brian Babin (R-TX), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-7] reported raising $2.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment, Part I)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr4612.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr4612 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114