Michigan Expands FOIA to Governor, Legislature

A bipartisan initiative in Michigan to include the governor's office and state Legislature under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has made significant progress, with the House Government Operations Committee voting to send the bills to the House floor. The proposed Senate Bills 669 and 670, co-sponsored by Senators Jeremy Moss (D) and Ed McBroom (R), aim to enhance transparency by removing current exemptions that prevent public records requests for these entities. If passed, the legislation would enable access to communications and meeting schedules, although certain exceptions for constituent communications and sensitive information will remain. Michigan is currently one of only two states that exempt these officials from FOIA, contributing to its ranking as the least transparent state in the nation. The bills, which have been under consideration for nearly a decade, require further votes in the House and Senate before reaching the governor for approval. Supporters believe that this legislation marks a historic step towards greater accountability in state government.