The bill amends the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act to clarify the interpretation of law in administrative and judicial proceedings, particularly concerning licensing boards. It specifies that courts shall not defer to the interpretations of statutes or rules by agencies that are not licensing boards, requiring instead a de novo interpretation. Additionally, the bill outlines that courts must exercise any remaining doubt in favor of reasonable interpretations that limit the authority of non-licensing board agencies.

Key amendments include the removal of language that previously allowed for discretion in interpretation by agencies and the introduction of new provisions that emphasize the lack of deference to non-licensing boards. The bill also modifies the requirements for courts when determining whether matters have been vested in the discretion of licensing boards, ensuring that courts give appropriate deference only when such discretion is clearly established by law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17A.19, 17A.23
Reprinted: 17A.19, 17A.23