Bill > HR1515

This bill, known as the "Guidance Out Of Darkness Act" (GOOD Act), aims to increase transparency and public access to agency guidance documents by requiring federal agencies to publish all guidance documents on a single, centralized website designated by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The bill provides a broad definition of "guidance documents," which includes various types of agency communications like memos, notices, bulletins, directives, blog posts, and speeches that explain policy or provide interpretations of laws and regulations, but do not have the force of law. Under the bill, agencies must publish all current guidance documents within 180 days of enactment and publish new guidance documents on the same day they are issued, with each agency also providing a hyperlink to these documents on their own websites. The guidance documents must be categorized and subcategorized for easy navigation. Documents that are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act will not be required to be published. When guidance documents are rescinded, agencies must maintain the documents at the central location and clearly indicate their rescinded status. The bill does not affect the validity of guidance documents and does not impact congressional review processes. Finally, the Comptroller General is required to submit a report to Congress five years after enactment evaluating agencies' compliance with the law.

Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1515/all-info