Senate committee advances two Freedom of Information Act bills to third reading

The Michigan Senate Committee of the Whole advanced Senate bills 1 and 2, both described as amendments to the Freedom of Information Act, to third reading after reporting the measures without amendments and recommending the bills pass.

Senator Singh, the majority floor leader, moved that the senate proceed to Senate bills 1 and 2. The chair of the Committee of the Whole, Senator McMorrow, presided over consideration and the secretary read the calendar items. The secretary stated, “There are no amendments pending to senate bill 1,” and similar language was used for senate bill 2. When the chair asked if there was any discussion, “Seeing none,” the bills were advanced to third reading.

The committee later reported back to the full Senate. Senator McMorrow said the Committee of the Whole “has met and considered several items” and the secretary read a report recommending that Senate bills 1 and 2 pass. The report placed both bills on the order of third reading of bills; no amendments or recorded debate were noted in the committee report.

No formal roll-call vote on passage was recorded on the transcript during the committee’s handling; the action recorded in the transcript was advancement to third reading and the committee recommendation that the bills do pass. Future action on final passage would occur at third reading on the Senate floor.

For context, the bills are identified on the calendar as amendments to the Freedom of Information Act; the transcript does not provide bill text, sponsors, fiscal notes, or a committee vote tally.