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House rejects bill to limit judicial deference to administrative agencies
Summary
After extended debate on separation-of-powers concerns and the Administrative Rules process, the North Dakota House voted 57-31 to defeat Senate Bill 2,285, which would have restricted courts from deferring to agency interpretations of statutes and rules.
The North Dakota House of Representatives on March 14, 2025, rejected Senate Bill 2,285, a measure that would have limited judicial deference to administrative agencies, with a final vote of 57 nays and 31 yeas.
Proponents said the bill was intended to preserve the legislative branch’s primacy in making law and to ensure judges independently interpret statutes rather than giving special weight to agency interpretations. "What is judicial deference? It is when a judge interprets a statute regulation or rule, the judge is to follow this statute instead of the administrative rule, interpretation of the statute," Representative Vedder said during floor remarks.
Supporters argued the change would restore an even…
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