Administrative Rules

Overview

This page provides information when the State Library of Oregon proposes to create or amend Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs). When the State Library engages in rulemaking, this page will include a summary, statement of potential fiscal impact, and FAQ documents pertaining to the proposed rules. The page also will provide minutes or recordings from rulemaking meetings and submitted public comments.

About OARs

OARs implement and clarify Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS). OARs are regulations created by state agencies from the laws passed by the Oregon State Legislature. For instance, OARs spell out the public contacting rules and public records retention schedules that local governments and the state must follow. OARs are limited. They can only include details or clarifications that are permitted by or follow from the relevant statutes. They cannot contradict or create obligations beyond the clear scope of the statutes.

Every state agency has OARs for the areas in which they work. The State Library’s rules are in OAR Chapter 543. They implement the library-related statutes in ORS 357. Topics covered by our rules include Public Library Minimum Conditions, Ready to Read Grants, and the State Documents Depository Program.

Amendments and new rules are proposed and formulated by the State Library Board. Notices of rulemaking hearings are given 28 days prior to the hearing date. A public hearing is held, public comment is heard, and proposed rules are either adopted or rejected. The adopted rules become OARs.

Resources

Proposed rules

Library cuts and closures OARs

The State Library proposes to create new OARs to clarify and address common questions related to ORS 357.621 – Public hearings required prior to abolishing or withdrawing support from public library:

This statute was created by Senate Bill (SB) 21 (1975). The bill significantly revised most of the public library statutes at that time. Several provisions created by SB 21 are still law today, including ORS 357.621.

ORS 357.621 has been triggered several times in the last 20 years during various proposed and sometimes implemented public library closures and cuts. These incidents and other recent proposed large library cuts have prompted questions not answered by the statute on its own:

What proposed actions by a governing body would trigger the need to hold hearings?
What information should be included in notice of the hearings?
After holding the hearings, how long does a governing body have to act before needing to hold new hearings?

We hope to address these questions and others that arise during the rulemaking process.

The new rules will be a part of OAR 543 Division 80 – Public Libraries.

Timeline

The following timeline is tentative.

June 2026 – Form Rules Advisory Committee (RAC)
June or July 2026 – RAC meeting to advise on content for the rules
June - August 2026 – Draft rule text.
August 2026 – RAC meeting to discuss proposed rule text
August 2026 – Oregon Department of Justice review
September 17, 2026 – Send notice to legislators (must be at least 49 days before the Board hearing)
September 23, 2026 – Send information to the SOS to publish in the Oregon Bulletin
Between September 17 to November 6 – Send notice to interested parties for public comment
October 1, 2026 – Proposed rules are published in the Oregon Bulletin
November 6, 2026 – Hearing held at State Library Board meeting, including deliberation and action
November 6, 2026 – Public comment will close at the end of the hearing
January 1, 2027 – Effective date

Previous rulemaking

In 2025-26, the State Library Board adopted revisions to the following OARs. They became effective July 1, 2026.

OAR 543 Division 40 – Ready to Read Grants (all sections)
OAR 543 Division 80 – Public Libraries (all sections)

You can find the notices of proposed rulemaking for these and other rules in the OAR Filings Search. Other records related to these rulemakings are available upon request. Please complete a public records request.