Kansas legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Kansas SB222: Prohibiting deference to a state agency's interpretation of a statute, rule or regulation or document by a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action
Status: In committee, April 10, 2026
What the bill says
An act concerning state agencies; relating to interpretation of statutes, rules and regulations and documents with the force and effect of law; prohibiting deference to the agency's interpretation by a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action.
From the introduced text, February 5, 2025:
AN ACT concerning state agencies; relating to interpretation of statutes, rules and regulations and documents with the force and effect of law; prohibiting deference to the agency's interpretation by a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas: Section 1. (a) In interpreting a state statute, rule and regulation or document that has the force and effect of law, a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action may consider but shall not defer to a state agency's interpretation of such statute, rule and regulation or document and shall interpret the meaning and effect of such statute, rule and regulation or document de novo. (b) In an action brought by or against a state agency, after applying all customary tools of interpretation and rules of statutory construction pursuant to law, a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action shall exercise any remaining doubt in favor of a reasonable interpretation that limits the state agency's powers and maximizes individual liberty. (c) As used in this section, "rule and regulation" and "state agency" mean the same as defined in K.S.A. 77-602, and amendments thereto. Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book.
Sponsors
- Troy Waymaster (R) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died in House Committee
- : Referred to House Committee on Judiciary
- : Received and Introduced
- : Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 31, Nay 9
- : Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 31 Nay: 9
- : Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
- : Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
- : Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary
- : Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Judiciary
- : Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Votes
- Final Action Amended (February 19, 2025): 31 yea, 9 nay, passed
Subjects: Courts, Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Administrative
Common questions
- What is SB222?
- SB222 is a bill in the Kansas Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Prohibiting deference to a state agency's interpretation of a statute, rule or regulation or document by a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action.
- What does SB222 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning state agencies; relating to interpretation of statutes, rules and regulations and documents with the force and effect of law; prohibiting deference to the agency's interpretation by a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action.
- What is the status of SB222?
- In committee as of April 10, 2026. Latest action: Died in House Committee (April 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB222?
- Troy Waymaster (R).
- Where is the official record for SB222?
- On the Kansas Legislature website: https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb222/
Source: official Kansas record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.