Virginia Regulatory Town Hall

Petitions for rulemaking

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Instructions for State Users

What is a petition for rulemaking?

A petition for rulemaking is a request to an agency/board to develop a new regulation or amend an existing regulation. The Town Hall provides the public with notice and opportunities for comment on a petition for rulemaking; however, currently, the petitioner must submit the request to an agency/board outside the Town Hall. The steps for submitting a petition for rulemaking to an agency/board are set out in ยง 2.2-4007 (A) of the Code of Virginia. See a chart of the petition for rulemaking process. The agency regulatory coordinator would then enter the petition on the Town Hall.

How to submit a petition for rulemaking on the Town Hall [Agency Instructions]

Step 1: After logging on to the Town Hall as an agency user, see the blue menu bar on the left and look for "Agency functions." On the dropdown list, select "My Petitions."
Step 2: Click on the "Add Petition" hyperlink.
Step 3: Enter information on the three tabs: "General information", "Petitioner Request", and "Agency Plan".

Click on the "General Information" tab and enter the appropriate information in the following fields:

Petition Title: Enter a brief descriptive title explaining the purpose of the petition.

Petitioner: Enter the name of the petitioner.

Select the board affected by this petition: If the agency has only one board, then the board name will be displayed automatically instead of the board dropdown list.

Select the primary VAC chapter that will be affected: Select "A new chapter will be created" or select an existing regulation from the dropdown list. If the agency has more than one board in the board dropdown list, the checkboxes for the associated regulations to the board will not be displayed until a board is selected.

Date Petition Received: Enter dates numerically, e.g., 07/20/2005.

Comment Period: Enter date numerically, e.g., 07/20/2005. A public comment period must be at least 21 days and begin the day it is published in The Virginia Register. Use the Register publication schedule to help select the appropriate dates.

Click on the tab of "Petitioner Request" and enter the petitioner's request. Please do not copy/paste from Microsoft Word as this will cause formatting difficulties for the publication of The Virginia Register.

Click on the tab of "Agency Plan" and enter the agency's plan to address the petition.

Step 4: Once you have completed filling information under all three tabs, click "Save." Your petition has now been submitted to the Registrar for publication.

How to edit a petition for rulemaking on the Town Hall

  • After logging on to the Town Hall as an agency user, see the blue menu bar on the left and look for "Agency functions." On the dropdown list, select "My Petitions".
  • Navigate to the petition which you want to edit and click the Title hyperlink to go to the Petition Information page.
  • Click on the "Edit Petition" hyperlink.
  • Update the data.
  • Click on "Save" to save changes.

How to post a petition result

  • After logging on to the Town Hall as an agency user, see the blue menu bar on the left and look for "Agency functions." On the dropdown list, select "My Petitions".
  • Navigate to the petition which you want to edit and click the "Title" hyperlink to go to the Petition Information page.
  • Click on "Edit Petition".
  • Click the "Agency Decision" tab. Note: Whenever possible, the agency should post the petition result within the 90-day timeframe following the end of the petition comment period.
  • Enter the agency's decision. The agency may select to initiate a regulatory action or take no action.
  • If the agency selects to initiate a regulatory action, enter response date. If the action is already underway, select the action from the drop down list. If the action is yet to be created, please enter an estimated date for filing a NOIRA.
  • Click on "Save."

How to associate a petition with a regulatory action

  • After logging on to the Town Hall as an agency user, see the blue menu bar on the left and look for "Agency functions." On the dropdown list, select "My Petitions".
  • Navigate to the petition which you want to edit and click the Title hyperlink to go to the Petition Information page.
  • Click the Edit Petition hyperlink.
  • Click the "Agency Decision" tab.
  • See "How to post a petition result" above for further information.