# Sunset Clauses Sunset clauses are legal or regulatory provisions that establish an expiration date for laws, programs, or agencies unless they are actively renewed. Their goal is to prevent regulatory buildup and ensure periodic review of public policies. ## Entries **[[2025-05-09]]**: The [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] has announced plans to sunset its operations by December 31, 2045. Over the next two decades, the foundation intends to donate approximately $200 billion, focusing on global health, education, and poverty alleviation. This accelerated giving strategy aims to address pressing global challenges and reflects Bill Gates's commitment to distributing the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. **27/08/2015:** Texas operates one of the most institutionalized sunset systems in the United States—part of a broader trend seen in [over 35 states](https://www.mercatus.org/research/research-papers/sunset-legislation-states-balancing-legislature-and-executive) (according to the [[Mercatus Center]]). In Texas, every state agency has a statutory lifespan and must periodically justify its continued existence to the **[Sunset Advisory Commission](https://www.sunset.texas.gov/)**, a technical body tied to the legislature and responsible for evaluating the agency's performance and continued relevance. If the agency fails to make its case, it is automatically abolished. **18/07/2024**: Idaho’s **[Zero-Based Regulation](https://manhattan.institute/article/zero-based-regulation-a-step-by-step-guide-for-states)** model mandates that all regulations automatically expire every five years unless reauthorized. Agencies must proactively justify the renewal of each rule, using cost-benefit analysis and comparisons with regulatory practices in other jurisdictions. The system also includes **regulatory budgets**, which limit the total volume of regulations, forcing agencies to prioritize and streamline.