Georgia governor signs measure telling courts not to tip the scales toward state agencies

ATLANTA — A measure that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law changes how state courts read laws and regulations when government agencies are involved, telling judges not to give agencies the benefit of the doubt.

House Bill 1247, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, requires Georgia courts to interpret statutes and regulations without leaning in favor of a state agency’s reading of the law. The bill effectively follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which ended the federal Chevron doctrine.

That matters because these disputes are not academic exercises. Agency interpretations can shape permitting fights, licensing rules, tax disputes, health regulations and the daily grind of dealing with state government in Georgia.

The bill’s supporters say courts — not bureaucrats — should decide what the law means when the wording is unclear.

Americans for Prosperity-Georgia praised the measure, framing it as a check on state agencies. Tony West, the group’s state director, said the legislation would keep “the opinions of state bureaucrats” from taking precedence over the law.

Supporters of the measure see it as a way to restore judicial neutrality. Critics of similar measures elsewhere have warned that weakening agency deference can make it harder for regulators to apply specialized knowledge, especially in technical disputes.