summary
Introduced
01/13/2025
01/13/2025
In Committee
01/17/2025
01/17/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/27/2025
06/27/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Legislative Measures
Bill Summary
The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: The Act says that courts may not defer to a state agency’s thinking about a law or rule. The Act says that courts have to use an interpretation that limits agency power and favors people’s liberty. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.0). Provides that courts may not defer to an agency’s interpretation of a statute or rule. Directs courts to exercise doubt in favor of an interpretation that limits agency power and maximizes indi- vidual liberty.
AI Summary
This bill proposes to change how Oregon courts interpret laws and rules by establishing new guidelines for judicial review of state agency regulations. The bill defines key terms, including "rule" (as defined in existing Oregon law) and "state agency" (which encompasses any executive branch governmental entity). It prohibits courts from automatically deferring to a state agency's interpretation of statutes or rules, a practice known as administrative deference. Instead, when interpreting laws, courts must first use standard legal interpretation methods and then, if any ambiguity remains, resolve that uncertainty in a way that most restricts government agency power and most expansively protects individual freedoms. This approach represents a significant shift in administrative law, potentially limiting state agencies' ability to define the scope and application of their own regulations by ensuring that courts take a more independent and liberty-focused approach to legal interpretation.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (6)
Ed Diehl (R)*,
Dwayne Yunker (R)*,
Todd Nash (R),
Noah Robinson (R),
David Smith (R),
Boomer Wright (R),
Last Action
In committee upon adjournment. (on 06/27/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2255 |
| Open Government Impact Statement for HB2255 INTRO | https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureAnalysisDocument/83244 |
| BillText | https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2255/Introduced |
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