State Rep. Ann Bollin and the Michigan House this week voted to improve transparency and public access to state government reports.

Bollin, R-Brighton Township, strongly supports the effort to require all reports produced by state departments for the Legislature to also be made publicly available through a centralized, easy-to-use state website. She played a key role in advancing the measure, working to build consensus and providing committee testimony in support of the plan.

“People must have clear, straightforward access to information about how their government operates,” Bollin said. “This plan removes unnecessary barriers and puts important public records in one place, making it easier for residents to stay informed and engaged. I’m proud to have helped move this commonsense, bipartisan solution across the finish line in the House.”

State departments are required through law and the budget process to submit a wide range of reports to the Legislature. These include information on out-of-state travel expenses, use of state-owned aircraft, economic development programs, workers’ compensation and unemployment claims data, fraud prevention efforts, processing times, and environmental updates such as the State of the Great Lakes report.

Currently, many of these reports are either not available online or are spread across multiple platforms, making them difficult for the public to find. House Bill 5755 addresses this issue by creating a consistent, centralized system for publishing these materials so they are accessible, searchable, and free to the public.

Bollin emphasized that transparency is only effective when information is easy to locate and understand.

“I’ve long said that information is only as useful as it is accessible,” Bollin said. “By improving how these reports are shared, we’re making sure transparency efforts work for the people they’re intended to serve.”

The legislation builds on Bollin’s longstanding leadership on government transparency and accountability. Since beginning her service in the Legislature, she has championed reforms such as the House Ethics, Accountability and Transparency (HEAT) plan, which permanently increased oversight of taxpayer-funded grants, and has consistently supported stronger reporting requirements in the state budget.

House Bill 5755 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.