IA HF36

Amends Section 17A.19 to require courts to reverse, modify, or grant relief from agency action based upon an erroneous interpretation of law, removing the previous standard that only applied when interpretation was "irrational, illogical, or wholly unjustifiable"

Strikes existing provisions that established varying degrees of judicial deference to agency interpretations based on whether the law vested discretionary authority in the agency

Prohibits courts and presiding officers in contested cases from deferring to an agency's interpretation of state statutes, rules, or other agency documents subject to the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act

Requires courts and presiding officers to interpret the meaning and effect of statutes, rules, and agency documents de novo (independently, without deference)

Mandates that when ambiguity remains after applying customary tools of interpretation, courts must resolve doubt in favor of a reasonable interpretation that limits agency authority