The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.North Dakota bill prohibits judges from deferring to administrative agency interpretations
Last action · March 14, 2025: Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 31 nays 57Sponsors: Claire Cory and 5 others
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What This Bill Proposed
State judges are prohibited from deferring to an 's interpretation of a statute, regulation, or rule, regardless of any other provision of law.
Changes how state courts interpret laws and agency rules by requiring judges to exercise independent judgment rather than relying on agency expertise.
- The North Dakota Century Code serves as the codification of all general and permanent laws of North Dakota. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
state judges
Judges are prohibited from deferring to administrative agency interpretations when interpreting statutes or rules.
administrative agencies
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does judicial deference mean under this bill?
Does this apply to all judges in North Dakota?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Failed in the House.
Procedural history
10 actions- Mar 14, 2025HouseSecond reading, failed to pass, yeas 31 nays 57
- Mar 13, 2025HouseCommitteeReported back, do pass, place on calendar 8 6 0
- Mar 12, 2025HouseCommitteeCommittee Hearing 09:00
- Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
- Feb 6, 2025HouseReceived from Senate
- Feb 5, 2025SenateFloorSecond reading, passed, yeas 45 nays 0
Show 4 earlier actions
- Feb 4, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 3, 2025SenateCommitteeReported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 7 0 0
- Jan 29, 2025SenateCommitteeCommittee Hearing 09:00
- Jan 20, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
ndlegis.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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