New Regulatory Report: Louisiana Is the 10th Most Regulated State

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Stacy Schliewe, 225-205-7265
The Pelican Institute for Public Policy

New Report: Louisiana Is the 10th Most Regulated State. A 20 Percent Cut Could Grow the Economy by $14 Billion by 2037

Study finds 180,858 regulatory restrictions on the books, including rules that still require faxes, typewritten documents, and even mention telegrams

NEW ORLEANS – November 10, 2026 – Louisiana has 180,858 regulatory restrictions on its books, making it the 10th most regulated state in the country and the second most regulated among neighboring and peer states, behind only Texas. That’s according to a new report released today by the Pelican Institute for Public Policy and Pacific Legal Foundation.

The report, Regulatory Reform in Louisiana: An Opportunity for Greater Economic Growth, was written by Patrick A. McLaughlin, a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and visiting research fellow at Pacific Legal Foundation. It finds that cutting red tape by 10 to 40 percent over three years could make Louisiana’s economy between $4.1 billion and $42.1 billion larger by 2037.

“With so much investment coming to the state, Louisiana is poised for long-term growth in jobs and opportunity. However, that could be at risk because of decades-old regulations and permitting rules still on the books. In too many instances, fax machines and typewriters are still necessary to comply, and processes are too opaque and complex,” said Daniel Erspamer, CEO of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy. “States like Virginia and Idaho are examples of what’s possible with a focused effort to bring greater transparency, modernization of technology and communication, and streamlined rules and processes to government agencies. Our leaders have an opportunity to make meaningful changes and clear the way for entrepreneurs and job creators to continue writing Louisiana’s comeback story.”

Louisiana’s administrative code runs about 4.6 million words. Reading it once would take nearly 40 eight-hour workdays. Much of it is outdated. The report finds 41 active regulations that still implement a federal job training program repealed in 1998. At least 129 regulations still require fax-based procedures, 21 require typewritten documents, and 11 reference telegrams. Water pollution permit applications must still be “filed in triplicate.”

An analysis by Vulcan Technologies included in the report estimates that one-quarter of Louisiana’s regulations are discretionary, meaning agencies could eliminate them without any change to state law.

The report points to states that have already made deep cuts.  Virginia cut about 35 percent of its regulatory requirements, saving an estimated $1.4 billion a year, with an office of just four staff. Idaho cut its regulatory restrictions by more than 50 percent.

The report recommends that Louisiana:

• Set a goal. Announce a reduction target (such as 25 percent), measure the baseline, and track every agency’s progress.
• Sunset old rules. Regulations expire on a rolling basis unless agencies show they are still needed and working.
• One in, two out. For every new regulation, retire or modify old ones to offset the burden.

The report also notes that AI tools can now accomplish in a short period and on a smaller budget what used to require years of work.

The full report is available here: https://pelicanpolicy.org/RegReformLA

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About the Pelican Institute for Public Policy

The Pelican Institute for Public Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan research institute whose mission is to research and develop policy solutions that advance individual liberty, free enterprise, and opportunity for all Louisianans. Founded in 2008, the Pelican Institute believes every Louisianan should have the opportunity to flourish in communities where good opportunities abound and economic prosperity is achievable through hard work and ingenuity. In this capacity, Pelican has conducted extensive research on Louisiana’s coastal litigation. Learn more about Pelican at pelicanpolicy.org.

About Pacific Legal Foundation

Pacific Legal Foundation is a national nonprofit law firm that defends Americans’ liberties when threatened by government overreach and abuse. We sue the government in court when our clients’ rights protected by the Constitution are violated, and advocate for legislative and regulatory reforms in the other branches of government. Started in 1973 in California, PLF now files suits across the country, scoring precedent-setting victories for our clients, with an unmatched track record at the Supreme Court of the United States. Learn more about PLF at pacificlegal.org.

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