A contributor from the Association for Consulting Expertise advises a reader whose business, like many in Maine, must stay current with a daunting number of rules and laws.
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Q: How can my business keep up with changing regulations?
ACE: Businesses must be prepared for new regulatory requirements, but it can be difficult to stay up-to-date with constant developments. Change comes from many directions, including municipal ordinances, agency rulemaking and legislation — with 406 new pieces of Maine legislation going in effect this October.
Rates of regulatory change reached new levels in response to COVID, and business viability increasingly depends on ability to adapt to rapidly evolving requirements.
New regulations can determine business practices by restricting scope of operations, location, distribution, packaging and marketing. Regulations can affect safety protocols, recordkeeping and reporting requirements and can result in penalties for failure to comply.
Monitoring legislation and rule-making is essential to being prepared for new requirements. State agencies and legislative committees maintain mailing lists for interested parties, with information available through maine.gov.
Local ordinance changes can impact on day-to-day operations of a business at least as much as federal and state policy revisions. Monitoring municipal websites for information on ordinance development and public hearings is helpful, though accessibility and timeliness of content varies between localities.
By joining professional and industry associations you can gain access to valuable updates through workshops, networking, and newsletters. Many associations also provide advocacy on legislation and rulemaking affecting members; as a member, you can draw organizational attention to concerns about proposed regulations impacting your business that may otherwise go unnoticed.
The work necessary to being prepared for regulatory change is time-consuming, but essential for long-term business viability. A regulatory compliance expert knowledgeable in local, state and federal regulatory structures can review current business practices and help you develop a plan to successfully adapt to changing regulations.
For more on this topic, see “How to Keep up With Changing Regulations” at consultexpertise.com/blog/10949103.
Hillary Lister is a solo practitioner providing professional guidance for small businesses and organizations seeking to effectively navigate Maine’s changing regulatory landscape. She can be reached at hillarylister@mainematters.net.