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SB 2

Civil rights: public records; applicability of the freedom of information act to the legislature and governor's office; provide for. Amends secs. 6, 10 & 13 of 1976 PA 442 (MCL 15.236 et seq.) & adds sec. 14a. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0001'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stephanie Chang and 3 co-sponsors

Michigan bill extends public records access to legislature and governor's office under existing FOIA law, increasing government transparency with bipartisan support.

referred to Committee on Government Operations
#civilrights:publicrecords
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2

Legislative bill overview

SB 2 amends Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to make the legislature and governor's office subject to the same public records disclosure requirements that currently apply to other government agencies. Previously, these branches had exemptions from FOIA, limiting public access to their records.

Why is this important

This change directly affects government transparency and accountability. Citizens would gain legal right to request and obtain records from legislative offices and the governor's office, potentially revealing decision-making processes, communications, and spending. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support (33-2), suggesting broad agreement on increasing transparency in these traditionally closed branches.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and burdens: Legislative and executive offices may face significant administrative expenses managing new FOIA requests, potentially requiring additional staff and resources
  • Executive privilege and deliberative process: Concerns that broad disclosure could expose confidential legal advice, internal strategy documents, or sensitive negotiations needed for effective governance
  • Defines scope unclearly: The bill's amendments reference sections of the original act without showing exact new language, leaving uncertainty about which specific records become disclosable and what exemptions still apply

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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