State Rep. Mark Huizenga of Walker today voted in favor of a bipartisan plan making the governor and the Legislature subject to open records laws.

The Michigan House unanimously approved the multi-bill package, sending it to the Senate for further consideration.

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 – making state legislators and the governor subject to the same type of disclosure laws already followed by public schools and local governments.

“When I was the mayor of Walker, my colleagues and I were obligated to follow public records requirements – and all levels of government should be required to do the same,” Huizenga said. “It’s what the people we are fortunate enough to represent demand and deserve. Open government is better government, and that’s why I am proud to support greater transparency for our state-level officials.”

Huizenga served as mayor of Walker from 2014 through 2018. He joined the state Legislature in January.

The proposal approved by the House will subject the governor and lieutenant governor to the Freedom of Information Act (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 to protect the privacy and personal information of residents who contact their state lawmakers for assistance on personal matters. Other types of communications – including those lawmakers have with state departments and lobbyists – would not be exempt from public disclosure.

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The legislation approved today includes House Bills 4007-4013 and 4015-16.