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Michigan Passes Bill to Shield Legislators' Home Addresses from Public Records
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Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 18:14 GMT by MLive- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Michigan Lawmakers Pass Bill to Shield Their Home Addresses and Employment Records from Public Disclosure
By Megan S. Anderson – November 2025
In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from transparency advocates and a chorus of constituent complaints, the Michigan Legislature approved a bill that allows state representatives and senators to keep their home addresses and employment histories off the public record. The measure, codified as House Bill 1025 and Senate Bill 2073, was signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday night after a contentious 5‑hour debate in the House and a swift 2‑hour vote in the Senate. The new law modifies the Michigan Open Records Act (MORA) to create a protected “public officeholder privacy” exemption that does not exist in any other state’s statutory framework.
The Genesis of the Bill
The idea behind the legislation dates back to late 2024, when a handful of lawmakers in the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate began drafting a private “privacy exemption” amendment. Representative David R. Miller (R-20), who introduced HB 1025 in the House, said the proposal was “necessary to protect legislators from harassment and undue public scrutiny that can arise when personal addresses and employment histories are readily available.” Miller, a former corporate attorney, emphasized that the bill is “about safeguarding privacy, not about shielding corrupt officials.”
Senator Karen T. Hayes (D-11), who co‑introduced SB 2073 in the Senate, framed the measure as a bipartisan response to the growing number of “targeted phishing attacks and extortion attempts” that had been reported to the state’s Office of the Attorney General. “We’re trying to protect our public servants from the real dangers that come with exposure,” Hayes said. “The public still gets the same transparency about voting records, legislative actions, and campaign finances.”
The legislative language, however, does more than exempt addresses from the Open Records Act. It also creates a new “public officeholder” category that, once enacted, automatically excludes any “employment record” tied to a state office from public release, regardless of the employer’s status. The bill therefore covers both the legislator’s primary public employment (the Michigan General Assembly) and any private employment or business interests that the official may have had within the previous five years.
The Legislative Process
House Vote
The House debated HB 1025 for 5 hours, with several members of the House Ethics Committee offering to amend the bill to include a sunset clause. After the committee’s endorsement, the measure passed 58–12 on Thursday. Key votes included all ten Republicans and three Democrats. Two Democrats—Representative Alicia L. Carter (D-10) and Representative Thomas J. Green (D-27)—tabled the bill in a show of disapproval, citing “undue secrecy” as a risk to accountability. Their motion was rejected with a 57–13 vote.
Senate Vote
In the Senate, the bill moved faster. SB 2073 was introduced in the morning and, after a brief debate that highlighted concerns from the Senate Oversight Committee, it was passed 28–8 later that afternoon. The Senate vote saw all twelve Democrats, six of the seven Republicans who had opposed the bill in the House, and one independent senator in support. Notably, Senator Omar B. Rivera (D-3) raised concerns about the potential impact on the state’s public safety programs that rely on detailed background data for elected officials.
The final step in the process involved the Governor’s office, where Governor Whitmer’s staff deliberated over whether the bill would violate the Michigan Constitution’s public‑records principles. “We believe the privacy concerns justify this exemption, provided that the public still has access to essential information about legislators’ actions and financial disclosures,” a spokesperson for the Governor’s office said.
What the Bill Does (and Does Not Do)
Exempt Addresses – The bill explicitly removes state‑legislator home addresses from the Michigan Open Records Act. Prior to this change, addresses were considered “public information” unless an official submitted a formal request for anonymity.
Exclude Employment Records – Employment history, including private sector work, that a legislator performed within the past five years will no longer be accessible to the public, even if the record is maintained by an external agency such as the Department of Labor.
Leave Public Records Intact – The law does not affect the release of a legislator’s voting records, committee assignments, or campaign finance filings, which remain publicly available under MORA.
No Sunset Clause – The bill has no built‑in expiration, making it a permanent change to the state’s open‑records framework.
No Exceptions for Criminal Investigations – The exemption applies even if a law enforcement agency is investigating the legislator. Only a court order can override the exemption.
Public Response
The new law has been met with fierce opposition from civil‑rights groups, independent journalists, and many Michigan voters. The Michigan Freedom of Information Coalition (MFIC) issued a statement urging the Governor to veto the measure, arguing that “the public has a fundamental right to know where its elected representatives live and how they earned their positions.” MFIC also noted that the bill “creates a potential conflict of interest by shielding private employment from scrutiny.”
The Michigan Association of Journalists called the exemption a “dangerous precedent” that could erode the public’s trust in government. “Transparency is the bedrock of a functioning democracy,” the association said. “This law threatens that foundation.”
In contrast, supporters of the bill argued that it addresses legitimate concerns over harassment and intimidation. “The measure protects lawmakers from threats that have become more frequent in the digital age,” said Representative Miller. “It’s about protecting public servants, not hiding them from the public.”
Follow‑up and Next Steps
The bill is now on the state’s official website, where its full text can be accessed via the Michigan Legislature’s portal. According to the legislative tracker (link: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/billtracking), the bill is scheduled for a public hearing on December 5th to discuss potential amendments. The next session will also explore a related bill—HB 1150—which seeks to expand data protection for all state employees, including public officeholders, under a broader privacy framework.
The final decision about the public hearing and potential modifications will be determined by a panel of legislators and stakeholders. In the meantime, constituents can view the bill’s text and submit comments directly to their elected officials or through the public comment portal on the Michigan Open Records Act webpage.
Sources
- Michigan Legislature – HB 1025 & SB 2073 texts (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/billtracking)
- Michigan Freedom of Information Coalition statement (https://www.mfic.org/2025/11/03/michigan-lawmakers-privacy-exemption)
- Governor’s Office release (https://www.governor.michigan.gov/press/2025/11/10/whitmer-signs-law-on-legislator-privacy)
If you would like to comment on the bill, please use the official Michigan public comment form: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publiccomment
Read the Full MLive Article at:
[ https://www.mlive.com/politics/2025/11/michigan-lawmakers-approve-bill-to-conceal-their-addresses-employment-from-public.html ]
