Hessen's Deregulation Bill Would Erase Technical Standards From 31 Laws — and 14 Associations Are Sounding the Alarm
Published on 10/12/2026 at 08:11 | Editorial boerse-global.de
A coalition of 14 trade associations is pushing back against a Hessen state government draft that would strip binding references to recognised technical standards out of dozens of laws and regulations.
At issue is the draft Second Hessen Bureaucracy Reduction Act (parliamentary paper 21/5220), which would delete mandatory references to the "state of the art" and to "generally recognised rules of technology" from a wide range of state legislation and ordinances.
What the draft would change
Under the government's plans, existing technical references would be removed from 31 of the 72 state laws and ordinances being amended. Among the areas affected are wastewater and water law, IT security law, and regulations governing fire services.
The draft also targets infrastructure monitoring: inspection intervals for many sewers would be extended by five years.
According to the state government, the Hessen Building Code and contract-for-work law would remain untouched by the changes. The draft does not quantify any concrete savings in euros that the measures would generate.
Associations warn of legal uncertainty and liability exposure
The 14 associations in the alliance see substantial risks in the proposal. Without clear statutory references to established technical norms, they argue, authorities and courts would increasingly resort to case-by-case decisions. That, in turn, would create legal uncertainty and higher liability risks — burdens that would fall hardest on smaller businesses.
The groups also fear a troubling knock-on effect on legislative efforts in other German states if Hessen goes ahead with the removal of standards as planned.
Where the bill stands
The Hessen state government approved the draft on 17 September 2026 in cabinet. Formal introduction to the Hessen state parliament followed on 29 September 2026. The bill has not been passed, and deliberations in the parliamentary committees have yet to begin.
The association alliance is now calling on lawmakers to keep the technical standards in place during the legislative process. Real relief for businesses and public administration, the groups argue, should instead come from a targeted reduction of unnecessary documentation, reporting and procedural obligations.
