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Senators split 26-24 on bill directing courts to give renewed effect to later statutory amendments
Summary
Senate Bill 286, which would direct courts to treat subsequent legislative amendments as authoritative when courts revisit statutory interpretations, passed committee on a narrow 26-24 vote after lengthy debate about separation of powers and judicial precedent.
Senator Ted Emmerich, sponsor of Senate Bill 286, told colleagues the bill “codifies us in the rules of statutory construction” and would instruct courts to consider subsequent legislative changes when reviewing earlier judicial interpretations. "If the law changes, you need to look at how it is written today, not how it was when you first ruled on it," Emmerich said in debate.
Opponents argued the bill would undermine judicial precedent and interfere with the judiciary's…
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