SB 221 Missouri Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Modifies the standard of review for agency interpretation of statutes, rules, regulations, and subregulatory documents

SB 221 changes how courts evaluate agency interpretations of laws, rules, and regulations. It replaces the current standard requiring agencies to justify decisions as "not arbitrary and capricious" with a more deferential standard, meaning courts would generally uphold agency interpretations unless they are clearly unreasonable. This primarily affects federal and state agencies, judges, and legal challenges to regulatory decisions. The bill alters the legal framework for judicial review without creating new programs or directly impacting specific groups of people.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2024

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Governor

Introduced Dec 1, 2024 Last action May 30, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

House Committee Substitute → Perfected · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was significantly simplified from a broad repeal of over 100 existing statutes to a focused repeal of only one statute (536.140). The substantive content was also streamlined, removing extensive definitions and expanding judicial review powers to ensure courts interpret laws independently rather than deferring to agency interpretations.

Scope change

The bill's scope was drastically narrowed from repealing 111 sections across multiple statutes to repealing only one section (536.140) and enacting a single new section on judicial review of agency determinations.

SCOPE

Removed the repeal of 110 other statutes that previously covered civil jurisprudence, child abuse definitions, and various administrative procedures.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit language requiring courts to interpret state statutes de novo (independently) rather than deferring to agency interpretations, limiting agency power and maximizing individual liberty.

DEFINITION

Removed detailed definitions for terms like 'abuse' and 'assessment and treatment services for children' that were part of the original comprehensive bill.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified judicial review standards to allow courts to hear additional evidence under certain circumstances and to remand cases to agencies when new evidence could not have been produced earlier.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Duly Enrolled Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee

upper

May 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed

upper

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

H Third Read and Passed

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass H Fiscal Review

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass H Fiscal Review

lower

May 13, 2025

Committee

Referred H Fiscal Review Committee

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass H Rules - Legislative

lower

May 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass H Rules - Legislative

lower

May 5, 2025

Committee

Referred H Rules - Legislative

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass H Judiciary

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass H Judiciary

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Referred H Judiciary

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

S Third Read and Passed

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Truly Perfected S Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

SS S offered & adopted (Schroer)--(0882S.02F)

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from S Government Efficiency Committee

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass S Government Efficiency Committee

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Hearing Conducted S Government Efficiency Committee

upper

Dec 1, 2024

Introduced

Prefiled

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors