Opportunities for Public Involvement in MDA Rules | Minnesota Department of Agriculture

The rulemaking process utilized by the MDA provides three opportunities for public involvement:

When the Request for Comments (RFC) is published in the State Register, it communicates general ideas for the rulemaking. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide formal comments and input on the rulemaking ideas that may narrow or broaden the scope of the project. Stakeholder data or other relevant information can be submitted at this time. An example of information submitted could be relevant cost information for implementing the general ideas announced in the RFC. MDA encourages stakeholder participation at this early stage of the process so that relevant information can be considered as decisions that shape the rule are made.
During this phase of the rulemaking, MDA generally develops a preliminary draft of rule language and makes it available for at least one informal public comment period. Throughout this phase, stakeholder meetings may be held and informal comments may be submitted.
When a Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules is published, it signals the final opportunity for stakeholder input, unless a hearing is held. The published notice will indicate the relevant submittal deadlines. At this stage, a complete Statement of Need and Reasonableness (SONAR) and draft rule are made available for formal public comment.

The Agency can proceed with a public hearing or without one. If held, the public hearing provides an additional formal opportunity for stakeholders to testify or submit written testimony in front of an Administrative Law Judge who presides over the hearing.

On completion, MDA will publish final adoption of rules. Most rules become effective five working days after they appear in the State Register.

Check with the agency contact person to inspect written comments, written requests for a public hearing, and names of parties who requested a public hearing.

**Rule Number and Title:** Minnesota Rules Part 1505.1080 and Part 1505.0980, Subparts A and C; Revisor’s ID Number RD4960; OAH Docket Number 24-9024-41157
**Subject Matter:** Repeal of Obsolete Rules Relating to Private Applicator Certification Requirements, as well as certain uses and procedures.
**Brief Rule Summary:** The proposed obsolete rules are eliminating uses and procedures of the following inorganic arsenical compounds: sodium arsenite, sodium arsenate, arsenic trioxide, arsenic acid, and arsenic pentoxide, sodium fluoroacetate, compound 1080, fluoroacetamide (1081), and phosphorus paste, including any mixture, formulation, dilution, or combination thereof. These compounds are no longer in use for pest control in Minnesota. In addition, the obsolete rules are eliminating two options private applicators could take to obtain a certification from the Department. The options being eliminated are using a home study course and being interviewed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The Department have never used these options for any private applicator in the past, and these options are not in compliance with federal rules.
Agency Contact Person	Current status of proposed rule and any agency determinations	Comment Status	Timetable for adoption	Notices published	Public hearing schedule
Doug Spanier Douglas.Spanier@state.mn.us	Seeking comments November 3, 2025 - January 9, 2026	Active now	November 2025 - January 2026	Rule Notice	Not applicable

Acronyms:

GO – Governor’s Office
MMB – Minnesota Management and Budget
OAH – Office of Administrative Hearings
RFC – Request for Comments
SONAR – Statement of Need and Reasonableness
SR – Minnesota State Register

If you wish to be notified when the Department makes any changes to their rules, you can email Douglas.Spanier@state.mn.us, and let him know that you wish to be put on the agency’s rulemaking notification mailing list. Please list your name and the way you wish to be contacted - either email or regular mail - with the correct information.