What are interpretive rules?

Interpretive rules are nonbinding statements that agencies issue to clarify how they interpret certain laws or regulations. These rules serve to provide guidance to both the public and the agencies themselves, helping to explain the agency’s policies and how it intends to apply them in practice. Because they are interpretive in nature, they do not have the force of law and do not impose any legal obligations on the public, which distinguishes them from binding regulations.

The intent behind interpretive rules is to enhance transparency and understandability regarding agency operations without enforcing compliance in a strict legal sense. They can be very helpful for stakeholders trying to understand how an agency will enforce or approach a particular regulation.

In contrast, binding regulations are legally enforceable and come with established penalties for noncompliance. Procedures for conducting public hearings pertain to how agencies solicit public input and do not specifically describe interpretive processes. Detailed instructions on legislative procedures involve the operational workings of legislative bodies and not the clarifications of agency interpretation of regulations.