SB 403 Summary

• Transfers authority to hear appeals from environmental commissions (hazardous waste, land reclamation, safe drinking water, air conservation, and clean water) to the administrative hearing commission, while final decision authority remains with the original commissions.

• Requires the administrative hearing commission to hold hearings and issue a recommended decision within 60 days of appeal filing, with the final decision issued by the appropriate commission within 90 days based on the hearing record.

• Mandates that all environmental commission decisions include notice of appeal rights and requires appellants to file with the administrative hearing commission within 30 days of decision delivery or mailing.

• Allows prevailing appellants to recover interest on wrongfully collected or erroneously paid amounts at the rate set by the Director of Revenue under section 32.065.

• Routes judicial review of final commission decisions to the court of appeals instead of circuit court, and requires exhaustion of all administrative remedies before judicial review is available.