The Office of Legislative Services, Administrative Rules:

  • Maintains hard copy files for all proposed and adopted rules, declaratory rulings, and related rulemaking documents filed by more than 100 state agencies pursuant to RSA 541-A (and even some rules that are not subject to RSA 541-A);
  • Maintains on-line Agency Filing Histories for rules and declaratory rulings filed by each agency since 1974;
  • Assists agencies in editing and preparing adopted rules for agency publication, since each agency must publish its own rules;
  • Maintains copies of the official version of all effective rules;
  • Maintains on-line Agency Administrative Rules.
  • Compiles, edits, and publishes the weekly New Hampshire Rulemaking Register containing rulemaking notices filed by agencies and other information about agency rulemaking activities;
  • Serves as clerical and legal staff to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR), and maintains files of all agency and JLCAR correspondence, JLCAR meeting agendas and action minutes, legal staff comments to proposed rules, and meeting transcripts.
  • Publishes the New Hampshire Drafting and Procedure Manual for Administrative Rules approved by JLCAR for agency use in rulemaking;
  • Responds to requests by legislators, agencies, and the public for information about proposed and adopted rules and the rulemaking process under RSA 541-A; and
  • Maintains an electronic tracking system and online Rulemaking Search program for all rulemaking proceedings under RSA 541-A.

WHY ARE RULES AND RSA 541-A IMPORTANT?

Rules have the force of law if validly adopted and filed. Unless specifically exempted by statute, New Hampshire agency rules must be adopted and then filed according to a rulemaking process contained in the Administrative Procedure Act, RSA 541-A, with oversight by the JLCAR. Otherwise, as stated in RSA 541-A:22, I, the rules are not valid or effective nor may they be imposed by the state upon anyone for any purpose.

NEED COPIES OR HAVE QUESTIONS?

The Administrative Rules office has files open to the public for inspection and copying during regular office hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

You may contact the Administrative Rules office if you have questions on what proposed or adopted rules have been filed, or if you want copies of these rules or other documents. See Copies of the Official Version of a Rule. See also Agency Administrative Rules for rules available on-line and Agency Filing Histories.

Certain older documents, such as the original hard copy of adopted rules filed approximately 3 years or more before a request for inspection, are kept in storage with the Secretary of State's Division of Archives and Records Management. These can be retrieved by the Administrative Rules office upon request and made available under RSA 91-A, the Right-to-Know Law. All requests for copies of documents on file with the Administrative Rules office or in storage, or questions about proposed or adopted rules and the rulemaking process, shall be made to:

Mailing and Office Address:
    Office of Legislative Services
    Administrative Rules
    25 Capitol Street, Room 219
    Concord, NH 03301-6312
    adminrules@leg.state.nh.us
Telephone and Fax:
    Tel. (603) 271-3680
    Fax (603) 271-7871
    TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964
    or dial 711 (in NH)

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES STAFF and E-MAIL