Developing Story
Ley Hojarasca – Milei Mass Deregulation Push (2025–2026)
Ley Hojarasca is Minister Federico Sturzenegger's initiative to repeal around 70 laws as part of Milei's deregulation agenda, including cuts to local political body funding. The bill has returned to Congress multiple times amid legislative resistance. Its progress is a key indicator of Milei's ability to advance structural reform.
Importance: 70%Confidence: 78%Mentions: 1Updated: April 20, 2026
## Ley Hojarasca – Milei Mass Deregulation Push (2025–2026)
### Overview
'Ley Hojarasca' (literally 'Dead Leaves Law') is the colloquial name for Deregulation & State Transformation Minister Federico Sturzenegger's legislative initiative to repeal approximately 70 laws deemed obsolete or economically harmful. The bill has returned to Congress multiple times, reflecting both the administration's commitment and the legislative friction it faces (Buenos Aires Times, 2025).
### Key Provisions
- Mass repeal of legacy regulatory statutes across multiple sectors.
- Cuts to funding mechanisms for local political bodies, reportedly targeting provincial political patronage structures.
- Elimination of regulations the administration argues protect incumbent interests and impose unnecessary compliance costs.
### Minister Federico Sturzenegger
Sturzenegger, a former central bank president and economist, serves as the architect of Milei's deregulation agenda. Ley Hojarasca is his signature legislative project and a test of the administration's ability to push structural reform through Congress.
### Legislative Status
The bill has faced repeated Congressional resistance and has been reintroduced. Its return to Congress indicates that prior versions did not pass in their intended form, suggesting coalition-building challenges in the Argentine legislature.
### Strategic Relevance
- **Regulatory arbitrage**: If enacted, the law would alter compliance requirements across sectors including finance, agriculture, and labor — creating opportunities for businesses currently burdened by legacy rules.
- **Political risk**: The bill's targeting of local political funding makes it politically contentious and may generate coalition opposition from provincial political blocs Milei needs for other legislation.
- **Interaction with other reforms**: Ley Hojarasca overlaps with and complements the labor reform and privatisation agenda. Its fate is a leading indicator of Milei's Congressional leverage.
### Opposition
Provinces and political blocs dependent on regulated funding streams have opposed specific provisions. The CGT and other unions have monitored the bill for labor-related regulatory rollbacks.
### Timeline
- **2024–2025**: Initial versions introduced and stalled.
- **2025–2026**: Renewed push; bill returns to Congress with approximately 70 targeted repeals.