State Rep. Donni Steele this week secured committee support for her plan to ensure a more robust and consistent statewide standard for public financial disclosure, advancing House Bill 5901 out of the House Elections Integrity Committee.

The legislation builds on voter-approved transparency reforms by expanding Michigan’s Public Officers Financial Disclosure Act to include county commissioners and county executives in counties with populations over 150,000. Under the bill, these officials would be required to file the same annual financial disclosure reports as state-level officeholders, including information on income sources, assets, liabilities, and other potential conflicts of interest.

“Michigan voters made it clear they expect transparency and accountability from their elected leaders,” said Steele (R-Orion Township). “This plan closes a gap by ensuring county officials who oversee major budgets and decisions are held to the same standard as state officials. When people can see that decisions are being made in the open and with integrity, it strengthens trust in government at every level.”

Sixteen counties currently meet the population threshold, including several of the state’s largest population centers. Steele’s legislation ensures a more uniform and transparent system of disclosure, giving residents clearer insight into the financial interests of the officials making decisions that directly impact their communities.