Bill > SB712

This bill amends Oklahoma's Administrative Procedures Act, specifically Section 318, to modify judicial review processes for agency orders. The key change is that when reviewing agency orders, courts must now interpret statutes and administrative rules independently (de novo) without deferring to the administrative agency's interpretation, which represents a significant shift in how legal challenges to agency decisions will be handled. The bill maintains existing provisions that allow parties aggrieved by final agency orders to seek judicial review, either through appellate proceedings in the Supreme Court or by filing a petition in the district court within 30 days of being notified of the final order. The bill also preserves existing language about potential court cost and attorney fee awards, allowing agencies or aggrieved parties to recover such costs if the court determines that the proceeding was frivolous or intended to delay the effect of an order. Additionally, the bill updates some language and punctuation in the existing statute, and is set to become effective on November 1, 2025, providing clarity and a specific timeline for implementation of these changes to administrative review procedures.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb712&Session=2600