relative to judicial review of department of environmental services decisions.

HB 1614 establishes a distinct legal standard for reviewing decisions made by the Department of Environmental Services, separating it from the standards applied to other state agencies. Under this bill, courts will evaluate the validity of the department's orders and rules based on specific grounds, such as constitutional violations, lack of legal authority, procedural errors, or arbitrary actions. The legislation also creates a specific process for filing declaratory judgments to challenge the validity of the department's rules in court. These changes would take effect on January 1, 2025, providing a clearer framework for judicial oversight of the department's regulatory actions.