Senate votes to bring the Legislature and governor under public records law

Michigan residents who try to pry loose emails, calendars, and policy drafts from state government would gain new ground under a bill the state Senate passed in late January.

The bill (SB 1), sponsored by Sen. Moss, expands the state's freedom of information act to apply to the Legislature and the governor's office, two of the largest carve-outs in current law. Supporters call it a long-promised transparency fix that puts Michigan in line with other states. Critics warn it could expose constituent communications and slow legislative work.

After being introduced on January 7 and reported out of the Committee of the Whole on January 22, the Senate passed the bill 33 to 2 on Roll Call No. 1 on January 28, with two members excused. A proposed substitute was defeated.

The House received the bill on January 29 and referred it to the Committee on Government Operations. SB 1 is tie-barred to SB 2, meaning neither can take effect without the other.