S445 - Regulatory Reform Act of 2026. (SL 2026-59)
Session Year 2024
Overview: Section 1 of S.L. 2026-59 (Senate Bill 445) codifies the North Carolina Supreme Court's holding in Mitchell v. Univ. of N. Carolina Bd. of Governors, 388 N.C. 341 (2025), that courts interpreting State administrative rules must freely substitute their judgment for that of the agency and employ de novo review. This section also explicitly applies that holding to administrative law judges in the contested case process under the Administrative Procedure Act.
This section became effective August 11, 2026.
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