The Administrative Law Division of OAH conducts contested cases and rulemaking proceedings. These matters are governed by the Administrative Procedure Act. Procedures for these proceedings are set out in rules adopted by OAH. A Contested Case Proceedings Guide provides an overview of the process. Information is provided for Agencies, Cities, and others needing to arrange hearing services
Fair Campaign Practice and Campaign Finance Act complaints are heard at OAH. Persons filing a complaint or seeking information about the process should visit the Fair Campaign Process page. Decisions are posted there promptly after issuance.
Administrative Law Judges conduct the hearings for both contested cases and rulemaking. The calendar of upcoming hearings is online. Depending on the particular type of matter, the ALJ makes a recommendation or a final order. These recommendations and orders are available online in a searchable Database. Parties to cases may need Procedural Forms and Subpoenas. A Pro Se Guide and Witness Guide may be helpful in understanding the contested case process.
OAH in Saint Paul - Contact Info
The Office of Administrative Hearings is located in the Harold Stassen Office building in the Capitol complex in St. Paul. Check the OAH in Saint Paul Page for contact and mailing information, and more details on the facilities, parking, bus routes, etc.
The Office of Administrative Hearings, together with Senate Media, has produced a video guide to the administrative hearing process. The video provides a brief overview of the process and shows examples of offering evidence, questioning a witness, and making final argument.
Office of the Secretary of State,
Permanent Rules Relating to Elections
Rulemaking Proceeding Online
The public exhibits, public comments, and other documents relating to the rules proposed by the Secretary of State relating to Elections (Minnesota Rules, Chapters 8205, 8210, 8220, 8230, 8235, 8240, and 8250) are now available on the Elections Rulemaking Proceeding Page. The initial deadline for the submission of written comments in that rulemaking proceeding is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 7, 2010. The deadline for submission of reply comments is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 14, 2010.
Prairie Island Power Uprate and
Dry Cask Storage
Proceeding ALJ Recommendation Issued
The ALJ Recommendation regarding the proposed Power Uprate Rate and Dry Cask Storage at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant has been issued. The matter has been returned to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for final resolution.
Pollution Control Agency Rulemaking
ALJ Report Issued
Judge Heydinger's ALJ Report in the proposed rules of the Pollution Control Agency Relating to Air and Water Permit Fees (Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7002) has been issued. The rule now goes to the Pollution Control Agency for consideration and adoption.
CenterPoint Energy 2008 Rate
Proceeding Online
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has referred the application of CenterPoint Energy for an increase in natural gas rates to OAH for a contested case proceeding. This matter has been assigned to Judge Steve Mihalchick. Information regarding the rate increase, including the public hearing schedule and contact information for submitting public comment, is located on the CenterPoint Energy 2008 Rate Proceeding Page.
ALJ Report Issued in the
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Rulemaking Proceeding
The ALJ Report of Judge Mihalchick and Chief ALJ Report of Judge Krause have been issued in the rulemaking matter of the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources implementing the Wetlands Conservation Act (Minnesota Rules Chapter 8420). The rule now goes to the Board for consideration and adoption. The posted public exhibits, public comments, and other documents relating to the rules proposed by the Board remain available on the Board of Water and Soil Resources Rulemaking Proceeding Page.
Environmental Quality Board Rulemaking
Corrected ALJ Report Issued
A corrected version of Judge Michalchick's ALJ Report in the proposed rules governing the Environmental Review Program (Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4410) has been issued. The rule now goes to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration and adoption.
Board of Teaching Rulemaking
ALJ Report Issued
Judge Neilson's ALJ Report in the proposed rules governing Reading Preparation, Elementary and Middle School Licensure, and Technology-Related Licensure for Teachers, Minnesota Rules Chapter 8710, has been issued. The public exhibits, public comments, and other documents relating to the rule amendments proposed by the Minnesota Board of Teaching remain available on the Board of Teaching Rulemaking Proceeding Page. The rule now goes to the Board for adoption.
Board of Electricity Rulemaking
ALJ Report Issued
Judge Neilson's ALJ Report in the proposed rules governing Electrical Licensing and Training (Minnesota Rules, Chapter 3800) has been issued. The rule now goes to the Board of Electricity for consideration and adoption. The public exhibits, public comments, and other documents relating to the rule amendments proposed by the Board of Electricity governing electrical licensing, registration of unlicensed workers, and continuing education remain available on the Board of Electricity Rulemaking Proceeding Page.
High Pressure Piping Rules,
ALJ Report Issued
Judge Sheehy's ALJ Report and Judge Krause's Chief ALJ Report regarding the proposed rules governing high pressure piping have been issued. The rule now goes to the Board of High Pressure Piping Systems and the Department of Labor and Industry for correction of defects and adoption (NOTE: new agency web address as of May 1, 2009, www.dli.mn.gov).
CapX 2020 Proceeding Online - ALJ Report Issued
Judge Heydinger's ALJ Recommendation regarding the CapX-2020 project is now available. The matter has been returned to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for final resolution. For a description of the project and more detailed information, visit the CapX 2020 case page.
State Racing Commission Rules Governing
Horse Racing, ALJ Report Issued
Judge Heydinger's ALJ Report regarding the proposed rules governing horse racing has been issued. The rule now goes to the State Racing Commission for adoption.
Minnesota Power Rate Proceeding
ALJ Recommendation Issued
Judge Johnson's ALJ Recommendation regarding the proposed rate increase by Minnesota Power has been issued. More information about this proceeding is available on the Minnesota Power Rate Proceeding page. The matter has been returned to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for final resolution.
ALJ Order Issued on Petition Regarding Payday Lending
as Unpromulgated Rule
Judge Lipman's Order in the Petition of the Online Lender's Alliance for a Declaration that a Press Release by the Minnesota Department of Commerce Purporting to Subject Online Payday Lenders to the Requirements of Minn. Stat. Sec. 47.60 is an Unadoped Rule has been issued. Judge Lipman's Order is the final agency decision in this matter.
Fair Campaign Complaint Information Available
Information about the Fair Campaign complaint process is available on the Fair Campaign Process and Decisions Page. ALJ Orders are listed by the names of the complaining party and respondent. Decisions are searchable in the ALJ Decision Database. To limit your results to campaign cases, select the "advanced" search option and use CV as a required search term. A new resource is the inclusion of recent filings that are of widespread interest. Such documents are posted as they are filed and may not reflect all filings in a particular matter.
Wireless Internet
Wireless internet access is now available at the Office of Administrative Hearings in our St. Paul location. A user name and password is required to use this service. User names and passwords are obtained at the front desk from Raven Plendl-Grant (or by email at Raven.Plendl-Grant@state.mn.us). The standard access is through a one-day pass. For those with frequent business at OAH, an extended pass is available. The extended pass requires approval. Contact Raven Plendl-Grant to apply for the extended pass. One-day passes are available pending approval of an extended pass.
Digital Signage
The Office of Administrative Hearings has added digital signage in the waiting area. The digital signboard identifies the hearings and conferences for the day, the assigned Judge, and the room. A crawl across the bottom provides other useful information. The signage is mounted on the far wall of the waiting area next to the door to the hearing and conference rooms. In the past the ADR Division has not listed specific rooms for the various Judges but that will be changing. Attorneys are encouraged to locate which room their conference is in and to proceed directly to that room just as they would for a formal hearing.
New Artwork
Thanks to the efforts of Judge Cheryl LeClair-Sommer, the Office of Administrative Hearings has new artwork on the first floor in the corridors between the hearing and conference rooms. Included are some spectacular photographs from the Minnesota Historical Society which we selected to show the diversity of occupations in Minnesota. Thanks to Cheryl and the folks on the Art Committee for their work on this project.
Big Stone Transmission Line ALJ Order Issued
The Supplemental ALJ Recommendation of Judge Mihalchick and Judge Neilson has been issued in the Application for a Route Permit/Certification for the Big Stone Transmission Line . The ALJ Recommendation goes to the Public Utilities Commission for final decision. For more information about the Public Utilities Commission, visit the agency's website. The public exhibits, public comments, and other documents on the Big Stone matter remain available on the Big Stone II Case Page.
Secretary of State Voter Registration and Absentee Balloting Rule Report Issued
Judge Luis's ALJ Report [PDF format] has been issued in the Proposed Rules of the Minnesota Secretary of State Regarding Voter Registration and Absentee Balloting Chapters 8200 and 8210.
For more information about the Voter Registration rulemaking, visit the agency's website
Campaign Cases Keyword Searchable
OAH campaign complaint reports and orders are individually listed on the Fair Campaign Process Page. But those decisions are also searchable in the ALJ Decision Database. To limit your results to campaign cases, select the "advanced" search option and use CV as a required search term. For example, matters involving things of monetary value can be retrieved from the database using the seach terms 211B.13 and CV. From campaign flyers to penny candy, you can find it in the Database.
Bench & Bar Article on OAH
Judge Krause's Bench & Bar article Minnesota's OAH: Thirty Years of Innovation in Administrative Review has been reprinted on the OAH website. The article sets out the history of OAH, and describes the services provided by the Office. Our thanks to Bench & Bar of Minnesota for permission to reprint the article here.
Admin Law Division Calendar
The Admin Law Division Calendar is back online. Read about the format changes and then find that hearing you were looking for.
ALJ Reports Resources
The ALJ reports page contains a listing of recommendations and orders that are too recent for inclusion in the searchable Database. For some complex cases, the ALJ reports page provides links to other resources.
Last Updated - January 20, 2010