Bill > SB84

This bill establishes new legal standards for judicial review of state agency actions in Kentucky, fundamentally changing how courts evaluate administrative decisions. Specifically, the bill removes the traditional judicial deference to administrative agencies' interpretations of laws and regulations. Under the new provisions, when a court reviews an administrative body's actions, including rulemaking or adjudicatory decisions, it must apply "de novo review" – meaning the court will review legal questions completely anew, without giving any special weight to the agency's original interpretation. The bill prohibits administrative bodies from expecting their statutory or regulatory interpretations to receive deference from reviewing courts, effectively giving courts full authority to independently interpret laws without being constrained by an agency's perspective. These changes are applied to various types of administrative proceedings and are meant to ensure that judicial review of agency actions is more rigorous and independent, with courts having the final say on legal interpretations rather than deferring to administrative bodies' views.

Justice, Labor and Employment

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/sb84.html