GOOD Act: New Bill Forces Federal Agencies to Publish 'Guidance' Online — Here's What It Means for You

The "Guidance Out Of Darkness Act," or GOOD Act, is a new bill that aims to pull back the curtain on how federal agencies operate. Instead of keeping their interpretations of rules and policies hidden away, agencies will now have to post them online in one central spot. This includes everything from memos and bulletins to blog posts and even speeches that lay out agency policy. Think of it as a one-stop-shop for understanding how the government really interprets the laws it enforces.

Decoding the Rules

This bill is all about making sure the guidelines agencies use – which often have a huge impact on businesses and individuals – are easy to find and understand. The GOOD Act requires all agencies to publish their current guidance documents online within 180 days. New guidance? That has to be posted as soon as it's issued. And it's not just about posting current guidance. When a document is rescinded (taken out of effect), the agency has to keep it online, clearly marked as rescinded, along with the date it was pulled and, if applicable, the court case number that led to its removal. This is crucial for understanding the history and evolution of agency policies.

For example, imagine a small business owner trying to figure out if they comply with a new EPA regulation. Previously, they might have had to dig through the EPA's website, searching for any relevant guidance. Now, they can go to a single, centralized website, search for the regulation, and find all related guidance documents, neatly categorized and easily accessible. Or, consider a construction worker wanting to understand safety guidelines. Instead of relying on word-of-mouth or outdated information, they can directly access the official guidance from OSHA, ensuring they're up-to-date on the latest safety protocols.

Keeping Track of Changes

The GOOD Act mandates a centralized website for all this information, to be set up by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget within 90 days. Each agency will also have a prominent link on their website pointing to this central hub (Section 3(d)). This means no more hunting around different agency websites – it’s all in one place. The documents will be organized by category and subcategory, making it easier to find what you need (Section 3(e)).

The Fine Print: FOIA and Potential Limits

There's a catch, though. Documents exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) won't be subject to these rules (Section 3(f)). This means some sensitive information, like trade secrets or internal deliberations, might still be kept under wraps. While this is standard practice, it could be a loophole if agencies are overly cautious about what they classify as exempt. It'll be important to watch how agencies interpret this part of the law.

The requirement to keep rescinded guidance documents online is a big deal (Section 3(g)). It provides a historical record, letting you see how policies have changed over time. This is incredibly useful for businesses, lawyers, researchers, and anyone who needs to understand the background of a current rule or regulation. It also adds another layer of accountability – agencies can't just make guidance disappear.

Overall, the GOOD Act is a step towards greater transparency in government. By making agency guidance readily available, it empowers citizens, businesses, and organizations to better understand the rules that affect them and hold agencies accountable for their decisions. It's like getting the instruction manual for how the government operates – something that's been missing for far too long.