State Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) testified today before the House Appropriations Committee in support of his bill to strengthen transparency requirements for enhancement grants in the state budget.

House Bill 4420 would require that all proposed enhancement grant funds, also known as earmarks, be publicly disclosed on the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget’s (DTMB) website. The bill would apply to all enhancement grants initiated by members of the House and Senate.

“This is about keeping transparency at the forefront of state government,” said Kunse. “Whether the funding is requested from a legislator in the House or the Senate, the people of Michigan deserve to know where their money is going. If you’re requesting a public grant, you should be prepared to stand behind it openly and clearly.”

The legislation is aimed at closing a significant gap in current state budgeting practices. While the budget often includes millions of dollars in earmarks for local projects or nonprofits, there’s currently no permanent requirement that the details have to be easily accessible to the public.

The House unanimously adopted a resolution in January that required no budget bill can pass the chamber if it includes any earmarks targeted for specific recipients that weren’t disclosed well in advance, with the name of the sponsoring legislator, the intended recipient, the public benefit of the project, and other details. Earmarks also may not go to for-profit businesses, new nonprofit organizations, or entities tied to the sponsoring legislator.

Because the current disclosure requirement is only a House procedure, a future House majority could revoke the policy. HB 4420, if passed by the House and Senate and signed by the governor, would permanently require transparency for budget projects.

“This bill would hold both chambers of the Legislature accountable,” said Kunse. “No more anonymous earmarks. If we’re going to spend taxpayer dollars, they deserve to know how we are spending it.  When we are no longer in the legislature and future legislators take our place, this process should continue and be in place to protect Michigan transparency.”