Legis Daily

GOOD Act

USA119th CongressS-252| Senate 
| Updated: 1/24/2025
Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson

Republican Senator

Wisconsin

Cosponsors (15)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Rick Scott (Republican)Roger Marshall (Republican)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Mike Lee (Republican)James E. Risch (Republican)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Eric Schmitt (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Tim Sheehy (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)James Lankford (Republican)David McCormick (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Guidance Out Of Darkness Act," or "GOOD Act," seeks to significantly increase public access to federal agency guidance documents. It broadly defines a guidance document as any agency statement of general applicability that does not have the force of law but sets forth policy or interpretation, including various forms like memoranda, bulletins, news releases, and even speeches. This legislation mandates that agencies publish all newly issued guidance documents on the internet immediately upon their release. Furthermore, agencies are required to publish all existing guidance documents that are currently in effect within 180 days of the Act's enactment. All these guidance documents must be made available in a single, designated online location , which the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is tasked with identifying within 90 days. Agencies must also provide prominent hyperlinks to this central repository from their own websites, ensuring the documents are categorized and subcategorized for user-friendliness. Importantly, the Act includes an exemption for documents or information that are protected from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) . When a guidance document is rescinded, agencies must maintain it at the designated location, clearly indicating its rescinded status, the date of rescission, and any relevant court order information.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-380
GOOD Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-628
GOOD Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-791
GOOD Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 115-2296
GOOD Act
Jan 24, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 24, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mar 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1515
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-380
    GOOD Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-628
    GOOD Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-791
    GOOD Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 115-2296
    GOOD Act


  • January 24, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 24, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • March 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1515
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Government Operations and Politics

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresGovernment information and archives

GOOD Act

USA119th CongressS-252| Senate 
| Updated: 1/24/2025
The "Guidance Out Of Darkness Act," or "GOOD Act," seeks to significantly increase public access to federal agency guidance documents. It broadly defines a guidance document as any agency statement of general applicability that does not have the force of law but sets forth policy or interpretation, including various forms like memoranda, bulletins, news releases, and even speeches. This legislation mandates that agencies publish all newly issued guidance documents on the internet immediately upon their release. Furthermore, agencies are required to publish all existing guidance documents that are currently in effect within 180 days of the Act's enactment. All these guidance documents must be made available in a single, designated online location , which the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is tasked with identifying within 90 days. Agencies must also provide prominent hyperlinks to this central repository from their own websites, ensuring the documents are categorized and subcategorized for user-friendliness. Importantly, the Act includes an exemption for documents or information that are protected from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) . When a guidance document is rescinded, agencies must maintain it at the designated location, clearly indicating its rescinded status, the date of rescission, and any relevant court order information.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-380
GOOD Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-628
GOOD Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-791
GOOD Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 115-2296
GOOD Act
Jan 24, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 24, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mar 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1515
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-380
    GOOD Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-628
    GOOD Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-791
    GOOD Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 115-2296
    GOOD Act


  • January 24, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 24, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • March 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1515
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson

Republican Senator

Wisconsin

Cosponsors (15)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Rick Scott (Republican)Roger Marshall (Republican)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Mike Lee (Republican)James E. Risch (Republican)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Eric Schmitt (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Tim Sheehy (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)James Lankford (Republican)David McCormick (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Government Operations and Politics

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresGovernment information and archives