New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered a sweeping regulatory reset across state agencies, using artificial intelligence to scan thousands of rules for redundancies and outdated requirements. The initiative, which the administration calls the largest regulatory review in state history, is expected to save New Yorkers tens of millions of dollars in fees and compliance costs while improving the delivery of government services.
Hochul signed an executive order directing agencies to review existing regulations, fees, fines, boards, and commissions. The review will determine whether requirements can be simplified or eliminated and will consider dissolving boards and commissions that no longer serve the public interest. Unlike recent federal efforts to shrink government, Hochul framed the initiative as a way to make state government more effective, not smaller.
"New Yorkers rely on state government in ways big and small every day, but for too long, needless red tape has slowed down the core functions of government and made it harder for our state to deliver for its residents," Hochul said. "While some in Washington have tried to gut the very functions of government, we are choosing a different path, one that will strengthen the vital work of government and reaffirm its role for good in our state."
AI analysis identifies thousands of streamlining opportunities
The state worked with nonprofit organizations and academic researchers, using Stanford University's RegLab AI system to analyze regulations and pinpoint potential simplifications. AI-generated recommendations were then reviewed by state officials and outside experts. Robert Gordon, executive vice president of Recoding America Fund, said governments often keep adding new requirements without reassessing older ones. "Too often, governments just pile new rules on top of old ones, costing time and money for citizens, businesses, and public employees," Gordon said. "New York asks a simple, necessary question: What can we take away?"
The use of AI to comb through regulations reflects a growing trend in government modernization, a topic covered by resources like AI for Government.
First wave of reforms targets time, money, and obsolete rules
The regulatory review expands on Hochul's EXPRESS NY initiative, which spans 22 agencies. An initial package of 50 regulatory actions is projected to benefit more than 1.5 million residents. The reforms are grouped into four categories: saving time, saving money, expanding access to government services, and eliminating obsolete regulations.
Measures include simplifying occupational license renewals for over 800,000 licensed professionals, streamlining affordable housing reviews, reducing paperwork for Medicaid providers, and modernizing victim compensation procedures. The state also plans to eliminate several licensing and application fees, remove a $25,000 bonding requirement for transporting certain manufactured homes, and lower equity requirements for nursing home construction projects.
Another focus is removing outdated rules that remain on the books. The administration identified 15 labor regulations for repeal, including a decades-old requirement that restaurants obtain special permits allowing women to work after midnight, outdated specifications for truck and bus operators' timesheets, and obsolete sanitation rules from the 1970s. The state will also rescind long-obsolete "Y2K bug" guidance still maintained by the Office of Information and Technology Services.
Public input shapes future changes
Earlier this year, the state solicited suggestions through the EXPRESS NY portal and received nearly 4,000 proposals from residents across all 62 counties. State officials said those recommendations are being reviewed and will help shape additional regulatory changes expected later this year.
Why this matters for government professionals
New York's approach offers a template for using AI to support - not supplant - the human work of regulatory review. The initiative shows how technology can surface candidates for reform while keeping final decisions in the hands of agency staff and outside experts. It also demonstrates the value of pairing AI analysis with broad public input to build political and practical support for cutting red tape. For government professionals facing similar challenges, the model underscores that modernization does not have to mean dismantling government functions but can instead make them more efficient and responsive.
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