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Public commenter and chief counsel clash over ex parte rules; board declines action
Summary
At the State Water Resources Control Board meeting June 17, public commenter Ray Tahir argued the Legislature intended a disclosure model for ex parte communications under Senate Bill 965; Chief Counsel Michael Laufer and board members disagreed. The exchange concluded with offers to meet but no formal board action.
Ray Tahir, a public commenter, told the State Water Resources Control Board on June 17 that “ex parte communication is permitted” under Senate Bill 965 and related provisions and urged the board to revise its ex parte Q&A guidance.
Chief Counsel Michael Laufer responded in public forum, calling the disagreement “getting a little bit old” and repeatedly saying “words matter,” arguing SB 965 applies only in a narrow circumstance — orders that do not identify parties — and that existing APA and Bagley‑Keene prohibitions still…
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