Bill > HR1605

This bill, known as the Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025 (SOPRA), seeks to modify how federal courts review agency interpretations of laws and regulations. Specifically, the bill amends Section 706 of Title 5 of the United States Code to change the standard of judicial review for agency actions. Under the proposed changes, courts would be required to review agency interpretations of laws and regulations "de novo," which means they would examine legal questions completely anew without deferring to the agency's interpretation. This represents a significant shift from previous judicial practices where courts often gave considerable weight to agency interpretations. The bill also stipulates that this new standard of review would apply to all judicial reviews of agency actions, unless a specific law explicitly exempts an action from this provision. By requiring courts to independently interpret laws rather than defer to agency interpretations, the bill aims to enhance judicial oversight of administrative agencies and potentially limit their regulatory discretion, thus addressing concerns about the balance of power between different branches of government.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1605/all-info