0970-AD41 202510 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0970 Administration for Children and Families ACF 0900 Department of Health and Human Services HHS Reducing Bureaucracy and Burden in Community Services

This NPRM would eliminate the Administration for Children and Families’ obsolete and unnecessary regulations related to the Office of Community Services.

]]> Other Significant First Time Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage Undetermined Undetermined Deregulatory Not Yet Determined Not Yet Determined Yes

This NPRM proposes to modify Office of Community Services regulations to identify outdated and obsolete regulations, while also shining a brighter spotlight onto the regulations that remain in order to improve support families, reduce administrative burdens for states, territories, and Tribes, and provide additional flexibilities. The proposed changes would remove outdated provisions and streamline requirements.

This action is necessary as ACF has amassed nearly 1,500 sections of regulations, some of which have not been amended or updated since the final year of the Johnson Administration. Without this intentional removal of dead-weight regulations, regulatory provisions can confuse and burden members of the public who are forced to abide by them.

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ACF has considered alternatives, including issuance of sub-regulatory guidance, but has determined that regulatory action is necessary to reduce burden on states, territories, and tribes who are currently saddled with dead weight text that presently remains on the books. Sub-regulatory action alone is insufficient to overcome outdated and obsolete mandates and requirements included in existing regulations.

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The regulations that are to be repealed as a result of this rulemaking are obsolete, and thus currently impose limited cost. As a result, the financial cost associated with their removal will not necessarily result in saved dollars, but will rather provide clarity and ease confusion to grantees and the public who interact with ACF’s regulations.

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ACF expects this NPRM will be well-received by the community as this serves to eliminate unnecessary and obsolete regulations.

]]> NPRM 07/00/2026 Undetermined Federal Local State Undetermined No No Adam Jones 0970 Administration for Children and Families ACF 202 417-0115 adam.jones@acf.hhs.gov 330 C Street SW, Washington DC 20201