PHOENIX  Just two days into the job, Gov. Jan Brewer slammed the brakes on any new rules or regulations, at least for the time being.

In a memo Thursday to all the department chiefs she inherited from Janet Napolitano, Brewer said she wants a chance to review not just proposed new rules but even those which already have been through the public hearing process and are simply awaiting formal publication.

That freeze, Brewer’s first official act as governor, remains in effect through the end of April.

There was no list of what would be affected. In fact, gubernatorial press aide Paul Senseman it was that lack of knowledge which caused the new governor to issue her order which demands a full list of any pending rules by the middle of next month.

Exceptions would be allowed for a regulation that “impacts critical public peace, health and safety functions of the agency.’’ And Brewer said agencies can proceed with rules designed to deal with the current $1.6 billion budget deficit.

Senseman said the order should come as no surprise, pointing to the theme of “freedom’’ in Brewer’s inaugural speech the day before.

“We want to review what the current overarching status is of all rules and mandates and how they impact what we’re doing as a government to Arizona citizens as well as to business,’’ he said. Senseman said that is critical if Brewer is to implement her goal of keeping regulations to a minimum.

“In order to do that, we don’t want to create any further problems by additional burdensome rules that may not make any sense any more, considering these economic times,’’ he said.

The idea of a moratorium actually comes from the 2009 legislative agenda of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. That organization is hoping the suspension actually extends beyond the end of April “until the economy recovers.’’

One highprofile proposed rule that would be affected stems from an order by Napolitano to have the state impose new restrictions on “greenhouse gas’’ emissions on Arizona companies. It specifically would make Arizona part of a regional “cap and trade’’ system which would be designed to force overall reductions on carbon dioxide and other gases that are believed to be linked to global climate change.

A scan of public records by Capitol Media Services produced a variety of other proposed rules that will come to a halt under Brewer’s order, including:

 New regulations designed to prevent the installation of substandard boilers which essentially are industrial hot water heaters;

 A fee on offhighway vehicles;

 Revised rules on sale of Medicare supplement policies in Arizona;

 Reduced continuing education requirements for behavioral health professionals;

 Higher fees for pest control professionals;

 Procedures for registration of emergency workers.