Amends the administrative procedures act and provides that on the review of an agency decision by a court upon appeal, the court shall decide questions of law without deference to any previous determination or interpretation of the law by the agency.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would change how Rhode Island courts handle appeals of decisions made by state government agencies. Currently, when someone challenges an agency's decision in court, judges often give weight to how the agency itself has interpreted the law — a practice known as "deference." This bill would eliminate that deference, requiring courts to independently decide legal questions on their own, without giving any special credit to the agency's interpretation.

In practical terms, this means that if a state agency — such as a licensing board, environmental regulator, or tax authority — makes a ruling based on its reading of a law, and someone appeals that ruling in court, the judge would not be required to accept or favor the agency's legal interpretation. Instead, the court would look at the law fresh and reach its own conclusion about what it means.

This bill affects anyone who interacts with Rhode Island state agencies and might need to challenge a decision in court — including businesses, professionals seeking licenses, individuals disputing government rulings, and advocacy groups. It also affects the agencies themselves, which could see more of their legal interpretations overturned on appeal. Supporters of such approaches typically argue it strengthens judicial independence and protects people from agency overreach, while opponents often contend that agencies have valuable expertise in complex regulatory areas. This bill is currently on hold at the sponsor's request after being referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee.