OMB has issued a memo reminding agencies of plain language requirements under Executive Order 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review," which also calls for public participation in the rule making process including the “open exchange of information and perspectives.”
To that end agencies must also provide clearly written executive summaries for lengthy or complex rules – both proposed and final. The summaries should separately describe major provisions and policy choices, OMB said.
It said the summaries also should generally be placed at the beginning of regulatory preambles, and provided a template for doing so. The template and memo are available at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs page on omb.gov.