LANSING, Mich. — Rep. Donni Steele today delivered testimony before the House Elections Integrity Committee in support of her legislation, House Bill 5091, which advances a more robust and consistent statewide standard for public financial disclosure. The measure expands Michigan’s Public Officers Financial Disclosure Act to include county commissioners and county executives in the state’s largest counties.

HB 5091 modernizes the definition of “public officer” by extending existing state-level reporting requirements to county officials in counties with populations exceeding 150,000. Under the proposal, these officials would file the same comprehensive annual disclosure report required of state legislators and statewide officeholders. The report captures key categories of earned and unearned income, significant liabilities, and gifts that must already be reported under Michigan’s lobbying statutes.

Steele said the reforms reflect a straightforward principle: the public is entitled to clear, reliable information about potential financial interests held by those who manage local budgets, contracts, and public resources.

“Transparent government is not optional. It is foundational to public trust,” Steele said. “Aligning county officials with the same disclosure standards that apply to state leaders creates a more coherent and accountable framework. It gives residents meaningful insight into potential conflicts of interest and helps strengthen confidence in local decision-making.”

Sixteen counties currently meet the population threshold, including Oakland County. The legislation also directs the Secretary of State to publish a standardized disclosure form to ensure the information is uniform, accessible, and useful to the public.

HB 5091 remains before the committee for further review.

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Media Contact: Dakota Gordon — [email protected]