Administrative Burden Reduction Begins - Pentz Warns Against Old Habits - Hesse slashes bureaucracy with new law to simplify 90 regulations
Hesse has introduced its first Bureaucracy Reduction Act, aiming to cut red tape for residents and businesses. The new law, which came into force at the start of the year, removes or simplifies nearly 90 regulations. Officials are also preparing a second phase to further streamline administrative processes.
The act includes over 120 measures to ease administrative burdens. For example, original or certified copies of documents are no longer needed for exam registrations or professional licensing. Many procedures can now be completed by email instead of in person.
Reporting requirements for nursing homes have been reduced, cutting unnecessary paperwork. The state is also using artificial intelligence to scan laws for outdated or conflicting rules. This automated review will help identify areas where further simplification is possible. Work on a second bureaucracy reduction law is already in progress. Key goals include speeding up approvals for major projects and reviewing old government preemption rights on land purchases. However, details on which agencies are preparing for these changes by 2026 have not yet been released.
The first law has already made processes like document submissions and licensing easier. The second phase will target deeper structural reforms, including faster project approvals. Officials have not yet confirmed which departments will lead the next round of changes.
