Michigan Democrats Reintroduce BRITE Bill for Government Reform

Michigan Democrats Reintroduce BRITE Bill Package to Enhance Government Transparency

In a significant move aimed at increasing accountability in Michigan's government, Democratic lawmakers gathered on Tuesday in Lansing to reintroduce a comprehensive package of legislation known as the Bringing Reforms for Integrity, Transparency, and Ethics, abbreviated as BRITE. This initiative comprises seven House bills that had previously stalled in the state legislature.

Initially presented in March 2024, the BRITE package faced difficulties during the previous legislative session. However, with newly elected officials stepping into their roles in 2025, there is renewed momentum behind these proposed reforms designed to address persistent transparency issues in Michigan’s governance. The objective is to strengthen the state's ethics laws, which are regarded as some of the weakest in the nation.

Among the key provisions of the BRITE legislation is a requirement for organizations that are tax-exempt and engage with candidates or elected officials, including their families, to register with the secretary of state. Additionally, the reclassification of legislative staff as public officials would require them to disclose gifts and expenditures associated with lobbying efforts.

State Representative Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) emphasized the importance of technology in promoting transparency, stating, “If we can track our credit card transactions in real time, we should be able to track where money is being spent in our politics and hold bad actors accountable when they break the law.”

Another crucial aspect of the proposed reforms is to give the secretary of state the authority to seek court orders in cases where violations of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act are suspected. This would allow for more swift action on alleged wrongdoing, provided that complaints include a clear and detailed account of the circumstances involved.

Fellow legislator State Representative Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) noted the current limitations of campaign finance reporting, which only necessitates periodic filings with the state Bureau of Elections. She advocated for immediate responses to violations, remarking, “So if a violation were to occur today, but a report is not due for another couple of months, we want to make sure that if someone is reaching out to the Bureau of Elections and saying, ‘I have evidence, I have reason to believe that campaign finance law is being violated,’ we want the bureau to have the authority to act promptly.”

The BRITE bills propose increased transparency measures, including mandatory donor disclosures during political campaigns. Morgan underscored the significance of this by asserting, “The integrity of your vote is the bedrock of our society and the voice of our people, but it’s under attack.”

Additional components of the legislation mandate that state elected officials reveal details about travel expenses, event tickets, and financial information related to their immediate families. Moreover, lobbying restrictions would apply to senior officials for a year after leaving office.

State Representative Julie Brixie (D-Okemos) highlighted the essential role of campaign finance reporting in fostering trust between voters and elected officials, stating, “Campaign finance reporting ensures trust and transparency between voters and elected officials. That is key to our democracy.”