![UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 6: Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., right, and Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., are ... [+] seen in the U.S. Capitol after a meeting](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/66a3b9db2b876266f545d4b5/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&height=900&width=1600&fit=bounds "A Threat To Justice—The Pro Codes Act Would Copyright The Law")
A Threat To Justice—The Pro Codes Act Would Copyright The Law
UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 6: Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., right, and Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., are ... [+] seen in the U.S. Capitol after a meeting of the House Republican Conference on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The proposed Pro Codes Act has sparked debate. In tax circles the discussion has centered particularly around its implications for tax policy and legal accessibility. In simple terms, the Act would allow elements of the law to be copyrighted by standards development organizations (SDOs).
This arcane technical change carries with it substantial risks to taxpayer rights and the principle of open law—with profound consequences for the transparency and accessibility of tax regulations.
SDOs like the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) play a critical role in crafting standards, such as the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which are frequently incorporated into statutory and regulatory frameworks.
