S. 4727Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)Introduced

SOPRA

Introduced July 11, 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 5:50 PM UTC

The Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2024 (SOPRA) amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to clarify how courts review federal agency interpretations of statutes and regulations. It requires courts to conduct a full, de novo review of all legal questions in agency actions, covering statutes, regulations, agency rules, interpretive rules, policy statements, and guidance. The change applies to any civil action seeking judicial review of agency action unless a law specifically references this section.

Key Provisions

  • Amends Section 706 to require courts to decide de novo all relevant legal questions, removing the “to the extent necessary” limitation.
  • Expands judicial review to include agency rules, interpretive rules, general policy statements, and other guidance documents.
  • Prohibits any law from exempting a civil action from this de novo review unless it explicitly references this section.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 438.

July 23, 2024

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 11, 2024

SenateCalendars

Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Legislative Day July 10, 2024).

July 11, 2024

SenateCalendars

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 438.

July 23, 2024

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 4727 on the floor

1 Democrat
Charles E. Schumer
Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Jul 23, 2024

Mr. President, I understand that there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading en bloc. In order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to…

Charles E. Schumer
Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Jul 11, 2024

Mr. President, I understand there are two bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc. I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Placed on Calendar SenateIssued July 23, 2024

II

Calendar No. 438

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4727

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 11 (legislative day, July 10), 2024

Mr. Schmitt (for himself, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Braun, Mr. Budd, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Thune, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Paul) introduced the following bill; which was read the first time

July 23, 2024

Read the second time and placed on the calendar

A BILL

To amend title 5, United States Code, to clarify the nature of judicial review of agency interpretations of statutory and regulatory provisions.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2024 or SOPRA .

2.

Judicial review of statutory and regulatory interpretations

Section 706 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking To the extent necessary and inserting (a) To the extent necessary;

(2)

in subsection (a), as so designated—

(A)

by striking decide all relevant questions of law, interpret constitutional and statutory provisions, and;

(B)

by inserting after of the terms of an agency action the following and decide de novo all relevant questions of law, including the interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions, rules made by agencies, and interpretative rules, general statements of policy, and all other agency guidance documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this subsection shall apply in any action for judicial review of agency action authorized under any provision of law. No law may exempt any such civil action from the application of this section except by specific reference to this section; and

(3)

by striking The reviewing court shall— and inserting the following:

(b)

The reviewing court shall—

; and

(4)

by striking In making the foregoing determinations and inserting the following:

(c)

In making the foregoing determinations

.

July 23, 2024

Read the second time and placed on the calendar