Plan extends open record requirements to governor, Legislature

State Rep. Ann Bollin today voted to approve a bipartisan plan to make state government more accountable to the people of Michigan. The House unanimously approved the multi-bill proposal.

Bollin, of Brighton Township, said Michigan is one of just two states that still exempts its governor and the Legislature from open records laws. The bipartisan solution approved today would end these exemptions and increase transparency in state government

“Extending the Freedom of Information Act to the state Legislature and executive branch is long overdue,” said Bollin, who served as FOIA Coordinator for Brighton Township for 15 years before joining the Legislature. “All branches of state government should be held to the same standards imposed on local government.”

The proposal will subject the governor and lieutenant governor to FOIA and hold state representatives and senators to the same high standard by creating the Legislative Open Records Act (LORA).

While LORA mirrors FOIA in many ways, there are exemptions for constituent inquiries to ensure that personal information is protected and kept private. Other types of communications – including those lawmakers have with state departments and lobbyists – would not be exempt.

“The people I serve deserve to know what goes on in the Capitol,” Bollin said. “This solution will give people access to important information about how their tax dollars are spent and the deliberation that goes into each vote.”

House Bills 4007-13 and 4015-16 now advance to the Senate for consideration.