HB0066 • 2026

Judicial deference-agencies.

AN ACT relating to administrative procedure; amending the judicial review process of agency actions; amending standards of review of administrative actions; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Representative Singh
Last action: 2026-02-23
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a broader scope of who it affects, which was narrowed based on the bill summary.

Judicial Deference for Agency Actions

The bill changes how courts review actions by state agencies and limits the deference given to agency interpretations of laws.

What This Bill Does

Amends the judicial review process of agency actions, requiring district courts not to defer to an agency's interpretation when reviewing statutes, rules, regulations, or final decisions.
Encourages courts to favor interpretations that limit agency power and protect individual freedoms when there is doubt.
Applies these new standards to actions for judicial review filed on or after July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

State agencies whose decisions are reviewed by the courts
Courts that handle cases involving state agency actions

Terms To Know

Deference: When a court gives weight to an agency's interpretation of laws or regulations.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was not considered by the Committee of the Whole on February 23, 2026.
It only applies to actions for judicial review filed after July 1, 2026, if it were to become law.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0066HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Chestek

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0066HW001 1 Page 1-line 8 Delete "16-3-114(b), (c)(intro)" and insert 2 "16-3-114(c)(intro)".

1 HB0066HW001 1 Page 1-line 8 Delete "16-3-114(b), (c)(intro)" and insert 2 "16-3-114(c)(intro)".
3 4 Page 2-lines 1 through 9 Delete entirely.
CHESTEK

HB0066HW002

Committee of the Whole • Representative Chestek

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0066HW002 1 Page 1-line 8 After "16-3-114(b)" delete ", (c)(intro)".

1 HB0066HW002 1 Page 1-line 8 After "16-3-114(b)" delete ", (c)(intro)".
2 3 Page 2-lines 11 through 19 Delete entirely.
CHESTEK

HB0066HW003

Committee of the Whole • Representative Chestek

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0066HW003 1 Page 2-line 21 Delete "In interpreting a state statute, rule, 2 regulation".

1 HB0066HW003 1 Page 2-line 21 Delete "In interpreting a state statute, rule, 2 regulation".
3 4 Page 2-lines 22 and 23 Delete entirely.
5 6 Page 3-lines 1 through 3 Delete entirely and insert "The 7 court shall review the decision of 8 the agency de novo.".
CHESTEK

HB0066HW004

Committee of the Whole • Representative Chestek

Filed

Plain English: 1 HB0066HW004 1 Page 3-line 5 Delete "actions brought" and insert "reviews"; 2 delete "by or".

1 HB0066HW004 1 Page 3-line 5 Delete "actions brought" and insert "reviews"; 2 delete "by or".
3 4 Page 3-line 6 Delete "against state agencies".
CHESTEK

Bill History

2026-02-23 House
H COW:H Did not consider for COW
2026-02-13 House
H Placed on General File
2026-02-13 House
H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 7-1-1-0-0
2026-02-10 House
H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary 51-10-1-0-0
2026-02-05 House
H Received for Introduction
2026-01-28 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

26LSO-0285
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0285
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0066

Judicial deference-agencies.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Singh, Andrew and Banks and Senator(s) Laursen, D

A BILL

for

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 16
‑
3
‑
114(b), (c)(intro) and by creating new subsections (d) and (e) and 30
‑
2
‑
213(b) are amended to read:

16
‑
3
‑
114.

Judicial review of agency actions; district courts.

(b)

The supreme court's authority to adopt rules governing review from agencies to the district courts shall include authority to determine the content of the record upon review, the pleadings to be filed, the time and manner for filing the pleadings, records and other documents and the extent to which supplemental testimony and evidence may be taken or considered by the district court.
The rules adopted by the supreme court under this provision may supersede existing statutory provisions.

(c)

To the extent necessary to make a decision and when presented, the reviewing court shall decide all relevant questions of law, interpret constitutional and statutory provisions, and determine the meaning or applicability of the terms of an agency action. In making the following determinations, the court shall review the whole record or those parts of it cited by a party
.

and due account shall be taken of the rule of prejudicial error.
The reviewing court shall:

(d)

In interpreting a state statute, rule, regulation or other sub
‑
regulatory document, the reviewing court shall not defer to a state agency's interpretation of the statute, rule, regulation or final decision and shall instead interpret the meaning of the statute, rule, regulation or final decision and effect de novo.

(e)

In actions brought under this section by or against state agencies, after applying all customary tools of interpretation, the reviewing court shall exercise any remaining doubt in favor of a reasonable interpretation that limits agency power and maximizes individual liberty.

30
‑
2
‑
213.

Judicial review of decision of inspector; procedure; payment of costs assessed against inspector; appeal.

(b)

Judicial review shall be in accordance with W.S. 16
‑
3
‑
114(c)
through (e)
. An interested party may obtain review of any final judgment of the district court under this section by appeal to the supreme court. The appeal shall be taken as in other civil cases.

Section 2.

This act shall apply to actions for judicial review filed on and after the effective date of this act.

Section 3.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

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HB0066