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Senate approves Administrative Law Judge amendments to streamline permit challenges
Summary
Senate Bill 66, which adjusts administrative permitting challenge procedures — requiring notice to both parties after any ex parte communications, increasing page limits for filings, and allowing review of ALJ decisions in the Court of Appeals — was presented and passed on the Senate floor.
Senate Bill 66, the Administrative Law Judge Amendments, was presented on the floor with sponsor explanation and passed after a roll-call vote.
Senator Dayton outlined three primary adjustments in SB66: require that any ex parte communication with an ALJ or division director be followed by communication to the other party; allow the ALJ discretion to increase initial page limits for petitioners and respondents from 5 up to 15 pages; and make clear that the ALJ decision can be appealed in the Court of Appeals. He said the Department of Environmental Quality recommended the changes to improve the workability of the permitting-challenge process.
The sponsor moved SB66 for third-reading and the Senate recorded the vote; the clerk announced the bill had received 20 yea votes. SB66 will modify administrative procedures for permit challenges as described by the sponsor.
Next steps: with floor passage recorded, the bill will proceed according to legislative process (transmittal to the other chamber or enrollment as appropriate).
