Rule2026-07431
Removing Redundant, Obsolete, and Inefficient Provisions From the Regulations Governing Restrictions on Lobbying
Primary source
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Published
April 16, 2026
Effective
May 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce Department
Abstract
By this rule, Commerce is amending its regulations governing restrictions on lobbying. Specifically, Commerce is amending said regulations by removing two redundant and unnecessary compliance provisions and by removing two reporting requirements that are obsolete and unwarranted. The intended effects of this action are to eliminate redundancy, promote administrative efficiency, and update Commerce's lobbying regulations to properly reflect and implement the underlying statutory authority in its current form.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20334-20335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07431]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
15 CFR Part 28
[Docket No. 260311-0068]
RIN 0605-AA73
Removing Redundant, Obsolete, and Inefficient Provisions From the
Regulations Governing Restrictions on Lobbying
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Commerce (Commerce).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: By this rule, Commerce is amending its regulations governing
restrictions on lobbying. Specifically, Commerce is amending said
regulations by removing two redundant and unnecessary compliance
provisions and by removing two reporting requirements that are obsolete
and unwarranted. The intended effects of this action are to eliminate
redundancy, promote administrative efficiency, and update Commerce's
lobbying regulations to properly reflect and implement the underlying
statutory authority in its current form.
DATES: The rule is effective May 18, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Sweeney, Senior Counsel, Office
of the General Counsel, at (202) 482-1395.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commerce is amending its regulations at 15
CFR part 28, ``New Restrictions on Lobbying.'' These regulations
implement section 319 of Public Law 101-121 (31 U.S.C. 1352), which
established government-wide restrictions on the use of appropriated
funds for lobbying activities in connection with federal contracts,
grants, loans, and cooperative agreements. The primary purpose of part
28 is to ensure transparency and accountability by requiring
certification and disclosure of lobbying activities intended to
influence federal executive or legislative branch officials regarding
such federal awards.
Commerce, along with numerous other executive branch agencies,
originally established these regulations through a government-wide
interim final rule published on February 26, 1990 (55 FR 6735, 6748).
On January 15, 2026, Commerce issued a proposed rule to amend part
28
[[Page 20335]]
by removing Sec. Sec. 28.405 and 28.410, because they merely restate
31 U.S.C. 1352(c)(3) and 31 U.S.C. 1352(f), and by removing 28.600 and
28.605, because they establish reporting requirements that are no
longer statutorily required or warranted (91 FR 1724). As stated in the
proposed rule, these removals are intended to streamline part 28,
eliminate regulatory clutter, reduce the possibility of confusion, and
promote administrative efficiency.
Public Comment
Commerce requested comment on the proposed rule. The comment period
closed on February 17, 2026. No comments were received during the
public comment period, and no changes were made from the proposed rule.
Classification
Executive Order 12866
This rule has been determined to be not significant for the
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 14192
This rule is an Executive Order 14192 deregulatory action.
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration (SBA) that this rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual
basis for the certification was published in the proposed rule and is
not repeated here. No comments were received regarding this
certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not
required, and none was prepared.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule contains no new information collection requirements under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 28
Administrative practice and procedure, Government contracts, Grant
programs, Grants administration, Loan programs, Lobbying, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: April 13, 2026.
Paul Dabbar,
Deputy Secretary of Commerce.
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, part 28 of title 15
of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
PART 28--NEW RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING
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1. The authority citation for part 28 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Sec. 319, Pub. L. 101-121 (31 U.S.C. 1352; 5 U.S.C.
301; Sec. 4, as amended, and sec. 5, Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890
(28 U.S.C. 2461 note); Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321, 28 U.S.C.
2461 note.
Subpart D--Penalties and Enforcement
Sec. 28.405 [Removed and Reserved]
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2. Remove and reserve Sec. 28.405.
Sec. 28.410 [Removed and Reserved]
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3. Remove and reserve Sec. 28.410.
Subpart F [Removed and Reserved]
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4. Remove and reserve subpart F.
[FR Doc. 2026-07431 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 16, 2026.
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