Compliance date
A date by which covered parties must meet a specified requirement; one rule can have multiple compliance dates.
Updated 2026-07-20Regulatory glossary
Precise words prevent expensive confusion.
Definitions are concise starting points. The source document and governing authority control.
Docket
An official collection of documents and public submissions associated with an agency action or proceeding.
Updated 2026-07-20Effective date
The date on which a regulatory action has legal effect, which may differ from a compliance deadline.
Updated 2026-07-20Final rule
An agency's final regulatory action, usually including operative text and effective-date information.
Updated 2026-07-20Guidance
Agency material that may describe interpretation, policy, process, or recommendations but is not automatically equivalent to a regulation.
Updated 2026-07-20Proposed rule
An agency publication describing regulatory text or policy it is considering, often with an opportunity for public comment; it is not a final rule.
Updated 2026-07-20