Publications, forms and resources
Bulletins
Minnesota Department of Human Services bulletins
The Minnesota Department of Human Services bulletins are official communication to inform county and tribal staff, as well as other DHS business partners, about program changes and required actions by workers and partner agencies.
2026 Bulletins 2025 Bulletins 2024 Bulletins
According to department policy, bulletins that are more than 2 years old that are not reissued are considered obsolete. Therefore, bulletins more than 2 years old are not available on the human services website.
Bulletin details
Background
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) annually issues around 100 commissioner's bulletins when appropriate information needs to be shared with county and tribal human service agencies and other business partners.
Bulletins:
- Announce new programs and policies, administrative rules or statutory legislation.
- Announce policy changes to current programs, administrative rules or statutory legislation.
- Communicate fiscal and budgetary information to county and tribal health and human services staff.
- Request information from county and tribal human services agencies, or business partners.
Bulletin numbering
A bulletin number is assigned in the left-hand side of the bulletin's cover page. Bulletins are numbered by a year and topic number.
For example: 14-53-01 means that this bulletin was issued in 2014 (14), under the 53rd bulletin topic (53 in the bulletin topic list is Mental Health), and this bulletin was the first bulletin issued for that bulletin topic in 2014.
Bulletin distribution and publication
Sign up below to receive email notifications when bulletins are released. If you experience problems, email Bulletin staff.
Policy to reissue bulletins more than 2 years old
Bulletins become obsolete after two years from the bulletin's issuance date. If the obsolete bulletin contains current information, the bulletin originator will reissue the bulletin or incorporate bulletin information into a DHS manual. As a result of this policy, many old policies and procedures that were previously contained in DHS bulletins can now be found in DHS manuals.
DHS Manuals
Bulletins include an expiration date on the front cover. The expiration date is generally two years from the date the bulletin is issued.
Questions
Questions about the policies and information in bulletins should be directed to the contact person listed on the cover page of the specific bulletin. Do not email DHS.Bulletins@state.mn.us.
Questions about the distribution of DHS bulletins should be directed to the legal editor in the department's Management and Policy Division.
Bulletin records and retention
According to the DHS General Records Retention Schedule, bulletins are available online while they are in effect and then DHS' Management and Policy Division retains the bulletin for three years. Unofficial copies are retained on the DHS public website while the bulletin is in effect and then deleted from the site when the bulletin is no longer in effect. Official copies of bulletins that are signed by the assistant commissioner are kept by DHS' Management and Policy Division. Copies may be obtained by request.
After three years, official signed copies of obsolete bulletins are transferred to the Minnesota Historical Society's State Archives Department for selection and disposition. Copies of obsolete DHS bulletins may be obtained from the Minnesota Historical Society's State Archives Department through its government records specialist.
Bulletins mailing list
When you are added to the distribution list, you will be notified of all new bulletins, not just certain ones.