Michigan Democrats Reintroduce BRITE Bill for Enhanced Transparency Reform

Michigan Democrats Push for Government Transparency with BRITE Legislation

In a concerted effort to enhance government accountability in Michigan, Democratic lawmakers convened in Lansing on Tuesday to reintroduce the Bringing Reforms for Integrity, Transparency, and Ethics (BRITE) bills. This initiative encompasses seven distinct bills that were previously unsuccessful in the state Legislature.

The BRITE package was initially presented in March 2024 but did not gain traction last year. With the advent of a new legislative session in 2025, the renewed focus aims to address long-standing issues related to government transparency and ethics in Michigan, which are often criticized for being lax compared to national standards.

Among the notable provisions of the proposed legislation is the requirement for tax-exempt organizations involved with candidates or elected officials to register with the Secretary of State. Additionally, the bills propose reclassifying legislative staff as public officials, obligating them to report any gifts or expenses incurred during lobbying.

State Representative Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), a key sponsor of the legislation, emphasized the pivotal role of technology in transparency efforts. He articulated, “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 critical aspect of the BRITE package includes empowering the Secretary of State to initiate lawsuits for alleged breaches of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. To do so, complainants must submit comprehensive statements of fact to support such legal actions.

State Representative Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) pointed out deficiencies in the current campaign finance reporting system, which requires only periodic updates to the state Bureau of Elections. She articulated the need for immediate interventions in cases of suspected violations: “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 or abused in some way,’ we want to make sure that the bureau has the teeth, via this policy, to be able to address that in the moment,” Byrnes said.

The BRITE bills also propose enhanced transparency measures, including the requirement for campaign donors' disclosures. Morgan reinforced the importance of this transparency, stating, “The integrity of your vote is the bedrock of our society and the voice of our people, but it’s under attack.”

Further provisions in the package would mandate state elected officials to report any travel expenses, event tickets, and financial interests related to their immediate families. Moreover, new restrictions would be placed on lobbying activities for high-ranking officials for one year after their departure from office.

State Representative Julie Brixie (D-Okemos), who also supports the initiative, stressed the significance of campaign finance accountability for fostering public trust. “Campaign finance reporting ensures trust and transparency between voters and elected officials. That is key to our democracy,” Brixie remarked.