Senator Lewis and Mass. Senate Vote to Increase Legislative Transparency

BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to pass legislation that increases residents’ access to information about how decisions are made inside the state legislature and the governor’s office, along with critical free press protections that allow journalists to protect their sources.

An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government writes into the state public records law that the public has a right to know about key legislative records, such as vote tallies, salaries of elected officials and staff, ethics disclosures, operating expenditures, and contracts. It also opens up access to records created by the Office of the Governor.

The transparency measure has earned the support of several groups who advocate for greater access to government and the promotion of democracy, including the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, Common Cause Massachusetts, and the ACLU of Massachusetts.

“Building greater trust and confidence in government by improving legislative transparency and accountability is critical for a healthy democracy,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “I have long championed efforts to improve the transparency of state and local government, including being the lead Senate sponsor of the last major update to the state’s public records law. This legislation will further open up the legislative process and make it easier for the public to see how we operate and to hold us accountable.”

Building on the legislation’s support for freedom of information, the Senate voted unanimously to adopt an amendment guaranteeing legal protections for journalists by allowing them to protect the anonymity of their sources, as members of the press face increased attack from bad actors at the federal level.

The bill outlines a new process for people to request legislative records, including the assurance of an impartial appeals process. A designated staff member in the Senate or House of Representatives would be required to answer all requests within 10 days and share any responsive records.

Requestors could appeal any denied requests to the Superior Court, independent of the legislative or executive branches of government. Similarly, people requesting records from the governor’s office could appeal a decision to the secretary of the commonwealth, then to the Superior Court.

After passing in the state Senate, the bill will now be reconciled with a different version that was previously passed by the House of Representatives before being sent to Governor Healey for her signature.

Throughout this legislative session, the Massachusetts Senate has worked to increase government accountability and transparency. The Senate has championed rules reforms that resulted in publicly posted committee votes and longer periods of public review before large bills are voted upon.