Administrative Rules
An administrative rule is defined in Wis. Stat. § 227.01 (13). The authority to create new rules, or to revise and repeal existing rules (promulgation), is delegated to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) by the Wisconsin State Legislature.
Rules must be promulgated according to a process established by the legislature in Wis. Stat. ch. 227, by the governor in various executive orders, and by the courts in various precedents. DHS must obtain approval from the governor to begin any project to create new rules, or to revise or repeal current administrative rules. DHS must also submit final proposed rules to the Wisconsin State Legislature for review prior to enactment.
Learn about current rules, as well as active rulemaking projects, which are listed below.
Submit a public comment
Statement of scope: Statement of Scope SS 047-25, Governor's approval 7/17/25
Scope expiration date: 1/28/28
Promulgation type: Omnibus rule revision
Promulgation status: rule drafting
Active notices/solicitations: None
Department contact: Jonathan Cook (Rules Attorney) JonathanP.Cook@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current and new rule text: New rule ch. DHS 33
Statement of scope: Statement of Scope SS 080-24, Governor's approval 7/18/24
Scope expiration date: 1/22/27
Promulgation type: Emergency and permanent rule revision
Promulgation status: Public hearing on permanent and emergency rule
Permanent Rule (CR 26-039):
- Preliminary public hearing held 9/6/24
- Preliminary public commenting period open until 9/6/24
- Advisory committee meetings: 10/11/24, 10/22/24, 11/12/24, and 12/12/24
- Comments on economic impact: 5/18/26 - 6/1/26
- Submission to Clearinghouse: 6/30/26
- Public hearing scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026, 1:00am to 12:00pm
Emergency Rule (EmR 2610):
Submission to the Governor's Office: 7/15/26
Governor's approval: 9/24/26
Date filed with Legislative Reference Bureau: 10/8/26
Date published in the Wisconsin State Journal: 10/13/26
Effective start date: 10/13/26
Expiration date: 3/10/27
Public hearing scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026, 11:00am to 12:00pm
Active notices/solicitations: Notice of Public Hearing and Comment Period
Chapter DHS 33
Clearinghouse Rule CR 26-033
Emergency Rule EmR 2610
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Department of Health Services (“the Department”) will hold a public hearing on an emergency and permanent rule, creating DHS 33, relating to crisis hostels.
Hearing information
Date and Time
Monday, November 9, 2026
11:00am – 12:00pm
Location
Microsoft Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2184122913138176?p=0kXwhc0t3RL59ioxMz
Meeting ID: 218 412 291 313 817 6
Passcode: tf9FX7Zq
Dial in by phone: +1 608-571-2209
Phone conference ID: 618 577 130#
Analysis and text of the rule
Clearinghouse Rule Text CR 26-039
Fiscal estimate - economic impact analysis
Clearinghouse Rule EIA CR 26-039
Public comments and deadline for submission
Comments may be provided at the hearing, or submitted DHS until November 9, 2026 by 11:59pm by:
- Selecting "Submit a public comment" above.
- Submitting a comment through the Wisconsin State Legislature’s website: CHR Public Comment
- Mailing written comments to:
Jenna Zander
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Division of Care and Treatment Services
819 N. 6th Street Milwaukee, WI 53203
Email: Jenna.Zander@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Initial regulatory flexibility analysis
The proposed rule will have an effect on small businesses, as defined under s. 227.114. The proposed rule will provide an alternative option to emergency services for individuals experiencing crisis consistent with the requirements in s. 51.043, Stats. Under this rule, county DHS 34 programs may voluntarily seek certification to operate a crisis hostel. No local government is mandated to operate such facilities. If a crisis hostel program is implemented, the economic impact will affect the county health and human services department and their crisis program. The impact to crisis programs is the recurring cost of program certification and the opening and staffing of a crisis hostel, costs which will primarily be offset by the reimbursement of the crisis stabilization services the program is providing.
Small business regulatory review coordinator
Jackson Keuler
Office of Legal Counsel
201 E. Washington Ave Madison, WI 53703
Email: Jackson.Keuler@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Agency contact person
Jenna Zander
Division of Care and Treatment Services
819 N. 6th Street Milwaukee, WI 53203
Email: Jenna.Zander@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Department contact: Sarah Coyle (Rules Coordinator) Sarah.Coyle@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current and new rule text: New rule ch. DHS 45, ch. DHS 105, ch DHS 107
Statement of scope: Statement of Scope SS 006-26, Governor's approval 1/15/26
Scope expiration date: 8/2/28
Promulgation type: Permanent rule revision
Promulgation status: Advisory committee meetings and rule drafting
- Preliminary public hearing held 2/9/26
- Preliminary public commenting period open until 2/9/26
- Advisory committee meetings: 4/29/26, 5/14/26
Active notices/solicitations: none
Department contact: Sarah Coyle (Rules Coordinator) Sarah.Coyle@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current rule text: ch. DHS 75
Statement of scope: Statement of Scope SS 017-26, Governor's approval 3/18/26
Scope expiration date: 3/23/28
Promulgation type: Permanent rule revision
Promulgation status: Statement of scope approval
- Preliminary public hearing held 4/28/26
- Preliminary public hearing commenting period open until 4/28/26
Active notices/solicitations: none
Department contact: Sarah Coyle (Rules Coordinator) Sarah.Coyle@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current rule text: chs. DHS 75, 101, 105, and 107
Statement of scope: Statement of Scope SS 047-24, Governor's approval 5/2/24
Scope expiration date: 11/13/26
Promulgation type: Permanent and emergency rule revision
Promulgation status: Legislative review
- Advisory committee meetings: 11/22/24 and 12/17/24
- Comments on economic impact: 5/12/25 - 5/26/25
- Clearinghouse submittal: 7/28/25 - CR 25-054
- Public hearing held 9/29/25
- Governor's Office proposed rule order submittal: 12/10/25
- Legislative review: 3/11/26
- Recall of the current rule and resubmission to the legislature with germane modifications: 10/8/26
- Submission to Legislative Reference Bureau for publication: pending
Active notices/solicitations: none
Department contact: Sarah Coyle (Rules Coordinator) Sarah.Coyle@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current rule text: ch. DHS 88
Statement of scope: Revised Statement of Scope SS 066-24, Governor's approval 5/30/24. This revised statement of scope modifies SS 108-21, which was published in Register No. 792A1 on December 6, 2021.
Scope expiration: 12/3/26
Promulgation type: Rule revision
Promulgation status: Preparing for submission to the Governor's Office for review
- Advisory committee meetings: 2/12/25, 3/5/25
- Comments on economic impact: 7/14/25 through 9/12/25
- Clearinghouse submittal: 4/7/26 - CR 26-026
- Public hearing held 7/7/26
- Governor's Office proposed rule order submittal: pending
Active notices/solicitations: none
Department contact: Jessica Holland (Rules Coordinator) JessicaM.Holland@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current rule text: ch. DHS 115
Statement of scope: Statement of Scope SS 052-26, Governor's approval 7/30/26
Scope expiration: 2/3/29
Promulgation type: Permanent rule revision
Promulgation status: rule drafting
Active notices/solicitations: none
Department contact: Jessica Przybylski (Rules Coordinator) Jessica.Przybylski1@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current rule text: ch. DHS 118
Statement of scope: Statement of Scope SS 046-25, Governor's approval 7/17/25
Scope expiration: 1/28/28
Promulgation type: Permanent rule revision
Promulgation status: Legislative Council submission
- Preliminary public hearing held 8/15/25
- Preliminary public hearing commenting period open until 8/15/25
- Advisory committee meetings: 11/20/25, 1/7/26, 1/29/26, 2/18/26, 3/11/26, and 4/16/23
- Comments on economic impact: 8/24/26 through 9/23/26
- Clearinghouse submittal: 10/6/26 - CR 26-057
Active notices/solicitations: DHS 118 Appendix A Proposed Changes Log
Department Contact: Jessica Przybylski (Rules Coordinator) Jessica.Przybylski1@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current rule text: ch. DHS 157
Statement of scope: Statement of Scope SS 069-24, Governor's approval 6/20/24
Scope expiration: 12/24/26
Promulgation type: Permanent rule revision
Promulgation status: Preparing for submission to the Governor's Office for review
- Advisory committee meetings: 9/30/25, 10/14/25, 10/28/25
- Comments on economic impact: 3/16/26 through 4/15/26
- Submission to Clearinghouse: 6/22/26 - CR 26-033
- Public hearing held 9/25/26
- Governor's Office proposed rule order submittal: pending
Active notices/solicitations: None
Department Contact: Jessica Przybylski (Rules Coordinator) Jessica.Przybylski1@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Current Rule Text: ch. DHS 163
Statement of Scope: Statement of Scope SS 079-25, Governor's approval 11/20/25
Scope Expiration: 6/1/28
Promulgation Type: Permanent and emergency rule revision
Promulgation Status: Preparing for submission to Legislative Council
- Preliminary public hearing held 12/4/25
- Preliminary public hearing commenting period open until 12/4/25
- Advisory committee meetings: 1/28/26, 4/23/26
- Comments on economic impact: 9/8/26 through 10/8/26
- Clearinghouse submittal: Pending
Active Notices/Solicitations: None
Department Contact: Jessica Przybylski (Rules Coordinator) Jessica.Przybylski1@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Note: Commenting, notification services, and rule documents may also be available through the State Legislature's administrative rule website.
Contacts
Jonathan Cook, Rules Attorney
JonathanP.Cook@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Jackson Keuler, Administrative Rules Officer
Jackson.Keuler@dhs.wisconsin.gov