HB2182 Summary

• Requires municipalities, counties, and state agencies to specify license and permit criteria for constitutionally protected activities in clear and unambiguous language, unless criteria are established by federal law.

• Establishes a 30-day approval or denial timeline for license or permit applications involving constitutionally protected activity; applications are deemed approved if not acted upon within the timeframe unless the application is incomplete.

• Shifts burden of persuasion in agency licensing denial hearings from applicant to the agency, with preponderance of evidence as the minimum standard of proof.

• Authorizes courts to determine whether licensing criteria language is clear and unambiguous without deference to legislature or agency; presumes clarity if agency issues written clarification or adopts rules.

• Modifies contested case hearing procedures to allow informal hearings in certain circumstances and gives presiding officers discretion to limit witnesses, testimony, evidence, and pleadings in such proceedings.