Rep. Donna Lasinski introduces Michigan FOIA reform legislation

ANN ARBOR, MI - State Rep. Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, says she wants to increase the public's trust in Michigan's elected leaders.

Lasinski, who is starting her first term representing western Washtenaw County in the state House after serving on the Ann Arbor school board, introduced a bill on Wednesday, Feb. 1, as part of a bipartisan legislative package that would extend Freedom of Information Act requests to apply to the governor's office and 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," Lasinski in a statement. "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," Lasinski said. "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."

State Rep. Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor, also applauded Wednesday's reintroduction of legislation to open the Legislature and governor's office to FOIA requests, saying he's proud to be a co-sponsor in the bipartisan effort.

Zemke said Michigan ranks last in government transparency and ethics and he considers the legislation an important step forward.