LANSING — State Rep. Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township) introduced a bill today as part of a bipartisan legislative package that would extend Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to apply to the governor’s office and would create a similar Legislative Open Records Act to apply to the state Legislature.
“I am proud to be part of the introduction of this important package of bills,” said Lasinski. “This legislation will not only increase transparency for our state government, but will also help hold government officials responsible to the people we are elected to serve.”
Lasinski’s bill in the package, House Bill 4156, specifies how to separate exempt from non-exempt material in requested documents, and requires that non-exempt material be made available for review. It also directs the attorney general to counsel and advise a public body on the administration of the Legislative Open Records Act to the state Legislature.
“This is a significant step toward restoring the public’s trust in their elected officials,” said Lasinski. “I am proud of the work that both former and current members of this body have done on this issue so far, and I am hopeful that my colleagues will join in continuing that work to make our government more transparent and accountable to Michiganders.”
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