Administrative Rules

State agencies promulgate administrative rules to implement or interpret provisions of the statutes enforced or administered by the agency or to establish agency procedures for administering programs. Administrative rules have the force and effect of law. The administrative rulemaking process is subject to oversight by the Legislature. A thorough description of the rulemaking process is provided in the 2019-20 Legislator Briefing Book, Chapter 5, Administrative Rulemaking.

The Legislative Council staff serves as the Administrative Rules Clearinghouse. An agency must submit a proposed permanent rule to the Clearinghouse for review and comment, prior to holding a public hearing on the rule. The Clearinghouse assigns a Clearinghouse Rule number to the rule and reviews the statutory authority under which the agency intends to promulgate the rule and the form, style and clarity of the rule. The Clearinghouse then submits a Clearinghouse Report to the agency with its comments about the rule.

• Text and Status of Proposed Rules
  • Currently Active Proposed Rules
• Proposed Rules Relating to Small Business
• Wisconsin Administrative Code

• Administrative Rules Procedures Manual (December 2014; updated January 2016) The Manual is prepared jointly by the Legislative Council Staff and the Legislative Reference Bureau to provide guidance to agencies on proper rule drafting techniques and the rule promulgation and review process.
• 2019 Annual Report of the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse (May 2020) The Rules Clearinghouse is required to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor summarizing any action taken and making recommendations to streamline the rulemaking process and eliminate obsolete, duplicative and conflicting rules.