U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Chevron doctrine to ... •…

U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Chevron doctrine to ...

• On July 1, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, overturning the Chevron doctrine, which had previously required courts to defer to federal agencies' reasonable interpretations of ambiguous laws.

• The Chevron doctrine, established in the 1980s, was a foundational principle of federal administrative law, cited over 18,000 times in federal courts.

• The case centered on a requirement from the National Marine Fisheries Service for herring industry vessels to cover the costs of onboard observers for conservation, which the D.C. Circuit had upheld under Chevron deference.

• The Supreme Court's decision marks a significant shift in power, allowing courts to interpret ambiguous statutes independently of agency expertise.

• County governments may gain more opportunities to challenge federal regulations due to the ruling, but it could also result in inconsistent enforcement of federal laws across different regions.

• The ruling may encourage federal lawmakers to create more precise legislation to reduce judicial interference in agency regulations.

• In a related case, Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Court extended the timeframe for legal challenges to federal agency rulemaking, increasing litigation risks for regulators.

• Upcoming legal advocacy cases, including San Francisco v. EPA and others, will address various local government operations and responsibilities.

• The EPA announced $58 million in grants for Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling, with additional federal funding available to counties through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

• The U.S. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution to avert a government shutdown, extending funding through December 20, 2024, just before the end of Fiscal Year 2024.

• An event discussing the new Supreme Court term and its implications for local governments will be hosted by the Local Government Legal Center.