The Michigan State House of Representatives passed House Bills 5469-5478 on Wednesday to expand and strengthen the state’s existing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws by subjecting the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor to FOIA laws and creating the Legislative Open Records Act (LORA).
“Being transparent in government on the front end is easier in the long run because it removes all doubts,” Michigan State Rep. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) said. “This package of bills carefully balances the public’s right to know while at the same respecting the privacy of constituents who want to confidentially share a personal issue or concern with their state Legislator. It’s time to apply transparency laws to how we conduct business here in the Legislature and how the governor conducts business in his office.”