Bill > SB70

This bill establishes new guidelines for how courts and administrative hearing officers should interpret statutes, administrative rules, and other regulatory documents in Oklahoma. Specifically, the bill requires that when interpreting such documents, courts and hearing officers must conduct a "de novo" review, which means they must make an independent interpretation without deferring to the state agency's existing interpretation. Moreover, when resolving any ambiguities in the interpretation, the court or hearing officer must exercise remaining doubts in a way that limits agency power and maximizes individual liberty. The bill introduces this new approach as a section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes, and it is set to become effective on November 1, 2025. The key innovation is shifting interpretative authority from administrative agencies to judicial bodies, with an explicit directive to favor interpretations that protect individual rights and restrict governmental regulatory power.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb70&Session=2600