HB 5247 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Civil rights: public records; limited access to public records; provide for incarcerated individuals. Amends secs. 1, 2, 3 & 5 of 1976 PA 442 (MCL 15.231 et seq.).

HB 5247 amends Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to exclude individuals serving prison sentences from the definition of "person" eligible to request public records. Specifically, it revises Section 2(g) to clarify that "person" does not include anyone incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities. This change directly affects people currently in prison, removing their right to access public records through FOIA requests. The bill maintains that all other residents retain full FOIA access rights, with no other policy changes to the act's core provisions.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Nov 12, 2025 Last action Nov 13, 2025
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Nov 12, 2025
Committee
referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Nov 12, 2025
Introduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Stephanie Young
lower
1 primary · 15 co-sponsors

Sponsors