A Bipartisan Senate pushes forward with Michigan FOIA reform, bringing the governor’s office and legislature under public records law for the first time in decades.
Michigan Senate Approves FOIA Expansion, Pressuring House to Act
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill package that would significantly expand the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), making both the governor’s office and state legislature subject to public records requests for the first time since the law’s inception nearly five decades ago.
Senate Bills 1 and 2, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Twp.), passed in a 33-2 vote. The legislation, long sought by transparency advocates, now moves to the Michigan House of Representatives, where previous efforts have stalled.
“It’s outrageous that Michigan is nearly alone in the country in blocking the public from accessing the documents from the governor and State Legislature. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working to strengthen FOIA and give our residents more tools to shine light on the inner workings of state government,” said Sen. Moss. “It should not take another 10 years for the Legislature to do the right thing for our constituents. Today, the Senate has done its part — now it’s up to the House to take action for the people of Michigan and ensure a more transparent government.”
Michigan Among Few States Blocking Public Access to Government Records
Under current law, Michigan ranks last in the nation for government transparency, earning an “F” in the National Center for Public Integrity’s 2015 report on government accountability. The state failed in 10 13 categories, including public access to information and executive and legislative accountability.
Michigan is one of just two states exempting its governor and legislature from FOIA requests, a status quo that has led to widespread criticism and calls for reform.
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) echoed concerns about Michigan’s lack of transparency, urging swift action in the House.
“For over a decade, we have seen countless situations where public access to records could have exposed corruption or mismanagement,” Brinks said. “Yet, there has been no justification for keeping these exemptions in place.”
Reform Efforts For Michigan FOIA Have Stalled in the House Before—Will 2025 Be Different?
While the Michigan Senate passed similar FOIA expansion legislation in 2024, the bills failed to advance in the House of Representatives. House leaders have yet to signal how quickly they will take up the newly passed bills, despite mounting public and bipartisan pressure.
Sen. McBroom, one of the bill’s Republican sponsors, emphasized that the legislation is not about politics, but rather about accountability.
“The people of this state need tools to hold their elected officials accountable,” McBroom said. “These bills make a great step forward in achieving that goal.”
Public Trust at Stake as Lawmakers Face Pressure to Act
Michigan residents have long voiced frustration with the lack of access to government documents. Advocates say increased transparency will improve trust in state government, particularly following controversies in past administrations involving state spending, campaign finance, and public safety decisions.
Moss and Brinks urged House leadership to act swiftly and not let the legislation stall for another year.
“It should not take another decade for Michigan lawmakers to do what is right,” Moss said. “We have given the House a chance to correct this historic failure.”
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