Contact Congress about H.R. 1605: Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025

When someone challenges a federal agency action in court, judges would have to decide legal questions on their own, without deferring to the agency’s interpretation. The bill also makes this rule hard to carve around unless Congress clearly says so in a future law.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2025 is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 12.

Latest action on H.R. 1605: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 12.

Who this affects: This affects anyone who brings or defends a court case challenging a federal agency action under the Administrative Procedure Act, because it changes how judges decide the legal meaning of statutes and rules. It also affects federal agencies whose regulations and enforcement decisions are often reviewed in court, and the people and businesses that have to follow those rules.

Why this matters: This bill shifts who gets the decisive voice on legal interpretation when federal agencies and challengers disagree: it puts that responsibility squarely on judges. Because federal agencies regulate many areas of daily life and the economy, changing the review standard could influence how often agency rules are challenged, how agencies write regulations, and how predictable enforcement feels. The bill keeps the existing grounds for striking down agency actions, but it changes the legal-interpretation step that often sets the stage for how those other tests play out.

Key provisions in H.R. 1605

• Changes section 706 of title 5 of the U.S. Code, the Administrative Procedure Act provision that tells courts how to review federal agency actions.
• Requires judges to answer legal questions “de novo” (starting fresh), including what the Constitution, federal statutes, and agency-issued rules mean.
• Makes this de novo legal-review rule apply in any case seeking judicial review of an agency action, even if another law would otherwise point to a different standard.
• Blocks future laws from quietly carving civil cases out of this rule unless the new law explicitly calls out section 706 as the place it is making an exception.
• Keeps the existing review tests (like whether an agency acted “arbitrary or capricious”) but rearranges them into a new subsection (b), while putting the new de novo requirement in subsection (a).

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 1605

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 1605

What is H.R. 1605?

When someone challenges a federal agency action in court, judges would have to decide legal questions on their own, without deferring to the agency’s interpretation. The bill also makes this rule hard to carve around unless Congress clearly says so in a future law.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 1605?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 1605?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 1605 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.