H.R. 1605 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, Feb 26, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryGives courts final say on agency interpretations
Right now, when courts review decisions made by federal agencies, they often give those agencies' interpretations some weight. This bill would change that. It would require courts to review all of an agency's legal decisions from scratch, without automatically deferring to what the agency thinks the law means. The bill also says no other law can override this rule unless it specifically says so.
How it affects you
This primarily affects people and businesses involved in disputes with federal agencies, since they could now challenge how an agency interpreted the law with a better chance that a court will make its own decision rather than accepting the agency's view. For most everyday Americans not in a legal dispute with the government, this doesn't create an immediate change in daily life, but it could shift how federal rules are enforced over time.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 26, 2025)
Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 202 5 or the SOPRA
This bill modifies the scope of judicial review of agency actions to authorize courts reviewing agency actions to decide de novo (i.e., without giving deference to the agency's interpretation) all relevant questions of law, including the interpretation of (1) constitutional and statutory provisions, and (2) rules made by agencies.
No law may exempt a civil action from the standard of review required by this bill except by specific reference to such provision.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1605
A BILL
Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-5) · Introduced Feb 26, 2025 · Government Operations and Politics · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 21, 2025: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 12.”