Stakeholder Engagement in Rulemaking

DORA is responsible for 40 boards, commissions, and advisory committees, charged with administering over 50 regulatory programs governing professions, occupations and businesses comprising over 710,000 individual licensees and approximately 40,000 businesses and institutions. We are always open to hearing from licensees, consumers, or other important stakeholders, whether it is about impactful legislation being discussed by the General Assembly, our policies, procedures, or rules.

To get involved with DORA's work that impacts you or your profession, browse the selections below, and then read about our "Stakeholder Engagement in Rulemaking" process to see how you can take part in this important work.

Alternately, if you have a comment or concern and aren't sure where to direct it, reach out to DORA's Customer Care team.

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Background on Stakeholder Engagement

State law requires DORA divisions with rulemaking authority to promulgate rules as part of our regulatory activities. The rulemaking process is public, and comments are taken into consideration throughout, especially the formal stages that must be followed as outlined in the State Administrative Procedure Act.

DORA divisions with rulemaking authority must also establish a process to receive public comment during rulemaking. The Divisions create representative groups of participants with an interest in the subject of that particular Division’s rulemaking. The stakeholder groups, made up of individuals who are either solicted by the Divisions or who express interest in participating, can submit comments or participate informally in discussions on the proposals under consideration. They can also participate in the public, more formal rulemaking proceedings on the proposed rules.

Stakeholder engagement ultimately depends on the unique circumstances of each potential rulemaking, but typically includes one or more of the following:

• E-mail “blast” notifications to any interested party with working drafts of rules, including
• questions for consideration;
• Open Forums to discuss preliminary concepts/ideas;
• Specific and targeted outreach campaigns;
• Webinars for specific stakeholders; and
• Formal and informal meetings/roundtables.

Petitions for Rulemaking

You also have the right to petition formally for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule. This
provides you the opportunity to identify problematic rules and to help DORA divisions improve
efficiency. The “Petition for Rulemaking” must be submitted to the divisions directly (via the
division’s individual filing process) and is open to public inspection. Action on a petition is at the
division’s decision makers’ discretion; but when the division undertakes a rulemaking on a matter, all related petitions for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of rules must be considered and acted upon in the same proceeding.

Other Resources

The rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by DORA divisions are available in multiple places, including the Department’s web-site. They are public facing intentionally, enabling interested parties to learn about the process and provide comments, particularly if the rule or regulation affects a stakeholder, individual, or business. Citizens can access extensive information regarding DORA’s rule-making activities online at our public-facing web-site, including the following: