United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee 16 R cosponsors

S 252 — GOOD Act

Last action — Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 16 sponsors

    1 primary, 15 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (16 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill establishes requirements for posting agency guidance documents online.

This bill requires agencies to publish guidance documents online as they are issued, maintain them in a single location, and indicate if they are rescinded. It aims to improve transparency and access to government guidance.

Summary

Guidance Out Of Darkness Act or the GOOD Act This bill establishes requirements concerning the posting of agency guidance documents. Specifically, an agency must publish guidance documents online on the dates they are issued, publish all of its guidance documents that are in effect in a single location on a designated website, display a hyperlink on its website that provides access to the guidance documents on such website, and indicate on such website if a guidance document has been rescinded. The documents must be categorized as guidance documents and further divided into subcategories.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

190 added · 50 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment removes the title and definitions sections from the bill, including terms like “guidance document” and the roles of agencies and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. By omitting these sections, the amendment likely simplifies the bill's initial structure and focuses on the main provisions without defining them. This change is significant as it streamlines the content, which may impact how the bill is interpreted and what aspects are emphasized in its implementation.

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252 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
252 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
565 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
Hoeven, and Mr.
Hoeven, Mr.
Risch) introduced the following bill;
Risch, and Mr.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To increase access to agency guidance documents.
McCormick) introduced the following bill;
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs September 14, 2026 Reported by Mr.
Paul, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To increase access to agency guidance documents.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <DELETED>SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.</DELETED> <DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Guidance Out Of Darkness Act'' or the ``GOOD Act''.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
2.
DEFINITIONS.</DELETED> <DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) Guidance document.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) Definition.--The term ``guidance document''--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) means an agency statement of general applicability (other than a rule that has the force and effect of law promulgated in accordance with the notice and comment procedures under section 553 of title 5, United States Code) that--</DELETED> <DELETED> (I) does not have the force and effect of law;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (II) is designated by an agency official as setting forth-- </DELETED> <DELETED> (aa) a policy on a statutory, regulatory, or technical issue;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> (bb) an interpretation of a statutory or regulatory issue;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) may include--</DELETED> <DELETED> (I) a memorandum;</DELETED> <DELETED> (II) a notice;</DELETED> <DELETED> (III) a bulletin;</DELETED> <DELETED> (IV) a directive;</DELETED> <DELETED> (V) a news release;</DELETED> <DELETED> (VI) a letter;</DELETED> <DELETED> (VII) a blog post;</DELETED> <DELETED> (VIII) a no-action letter;</DELETED> <DELETED> (IX) a speech by an agency official;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (X) any combination of the items described in subclauses (I) through (IX).</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) Rule of construction.--The term ``guidance document''--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) shall be construed broadly to effectuate the purpose and intent of this Act;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) shall not be limited to the items described in subparagraph (A)(ii).</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
3.
PUBLICATION OF GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (d), on the date on which an agency issues a guidance document, the agency shall publish the guidance document in accordance with the requirements under subsection (c).</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) Previously Issued Guidance Documents.--Subject to subsection (d), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall publish, in accordance with the requirements under subsection (c), any guidance document issued by that agency that is in effect on that date.</DELETED> <DELETED> (c) Single Location.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) In general.--All guidance documents published under subsections (a) and (b) by an agency shall be published in a single location on an internet website designated by the Director under paragraph (4).</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Agency internet websites.--Each agency shall, for guidance documents published by the agency under subsections (a) and (b), publish a hyperlink on the internet website of the agency that provides access to the guidance documents at the location described in paragraph (1).</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) Organization.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) In general.--The guidance documents described in paragraph (1) shall be--</DELETED> <DELETED> (i) categorized as guidance documents;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (ii) further divided into subcategories as appropriate.</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) Agency internet websites.--The hyperlinks described in paragraph (2) shall be prominently displayed on the internet website of the agency.</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) Designation.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall designate an internet website on which guidance documents shall be published under subsections (a) and (b).</DELETED> <DELETED> (d) Documents and Information Exempt From Disclosure Under FOIA.--If a guidance document issued by an agency is a document that is exempt from disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Freedom of Information Act''), or contains information that is exempt from disclosure under that section, that document or information, as the case may be, shall not be subject to the requirements under this Act.</DELETED> <DELETED> (e) Rescinded Guidance Documents.--On the date on which a guidance document issued by an agency is rescinded, or, in the case of a guidance document that is rescinded pursuant to a court order, not later than the date on which the order is entered, the agency shall, at the location described in subsection (c)(1)--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) maintain the rescinded guidance document;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) indicate--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) that the guidance document is rescinded;</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) if the guidance document was rescinded pursuant to a court order, the case number of the case in which the order was entered;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (C) the date on which the guidance document was rescinded.</DELETED> SECTION 1.
(3) Guidance document.-- (A) Definition.--The term ``guidance document''-- (i) means an agency statement of general applicability (other than a rule that has the force and effect of law promulgated in accordance with the notice and comment procedures under section 553 of title 5, United States Code) that-- (I) does not have the force and effect of law;
(3) Guidance document.-- (A) In general.--The term ``guidance document''-- (i) means an agency statement of general applicability (other than a rule that has the force and effect of law that was promulgated in accordance with the notice and comment procedures under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, or a statutory exemption to such procedures) that-- (I) does not have the force and effect of law;
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (d), on the date on which an agency issues a guidance document, the agency shall publish the guidance document in accordance with the requirements under subsection (c).
(a) In General.--Subject to section 5, on the date on which an agency issues a guidance document, the agency shall publish the guidance document in accordance with the requirements under section 4.
(b) Previously Issued Guidance Documents.--Subject to subsection (d), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall publish, in accordance with the requirements under subsection (c), any guidance document issued by that agency that is in effect on that date.
(b) Previously Issued Guidance Documents.--Subject to section 5, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall publish, in accordance with the requirements under section 4, any guidance document issued by that agency that is in effect on that date.
(c) Single Location.-- (1) In general.--All guidance documents published under subsections (a) and (b) by an agency shall be published in a single location on an internet website designated by the Director under paragraph (4).
SEC.
(2) Agency internet websites.--Each agency shall, for guidance documents published by the agency under subsections (a) and (b), publish a hyperlink on the internet website of the agency that provides access to the guidance documents at the location described in paragraph (1).
4.
(3) Organization.-- (A) In general.--The guidance documents described in paragraph (1) shall be-- (i) categorized as guidance documents;
SINGLE LOCATION.
and (ii) further divided into subcategories as appropriate.
(a) In General.--All guidance documents published under section 3 by an agency shall be published in a single location on an internet website designated by the Director under subsection (d) of this section.
(B) Agency internet websites.--The hyperlinks described in paragraph (2) shall be prominently displayed on the internet website of the agency.
(b) Agency Internet Websites.--Each agency shall, for guidance documents published by the agency under section 3, publish a hyperlink on the principal internet website of the agency that provides access to the guidance documents at the location described in subsection (a) of this section.
(4) Designation.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall designate an internet website on which guidance documents shall be published under subsections (a) and (b).
(c) Organization.-- (1) In general.--The guidance documents described in subsection (a) shall be-- (A) categorized as guidance documents;
(d) Documents and Information Exempt From Disclosure Under FOIA.-- If a guidance document issued by an agency is a document that is exempt from disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Freedom of Information Act''), or contains information that is exempt from disclosure under that section, that document or information, as the case may be, shall not be subject to the requirements under this Act.
and (B) further divided into subcategories as appropriate.
(e) Rescinded Guidance Documents.--On the date on which a guidance document issued by an agency is rescinded, or, in the case of a guidance document that is rescinded pursuant to a court order, not later than the date on which the order is entered, the agency shall, at the location described in subsection (c)(1)-- (1) maintain the rescinded guidance document;
(2) Agency internet websites.--The hyperlinks described in subsection (b) shall be prominently displayed on the principal internet website of the agency.
(d) Format of Guidance Documents.--Each guidance document published under section 3 shall be made available as an open Government data asset (as defined in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code) and, to the extent practicable, optimized for search engines.
(e) Designation.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall designate an internet website on which guidance documents shall be published under section 3.
SEC.
5.
DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER FOIA.
If a guidance document issued by an agency is a document that is exempt from disclosure under section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Freedom of Information Act''), or contains information that is exempt from disclosure under such section 552(b), that document or information, as the case may be, shall not be subject to the requirements under this Act.
SEC.
6.
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RESCINDED GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS.
On the date on which a guidance document issued by an agency is rescinded, or, in the case of a guidance document that is rescinded pursuant to a court order, not later than the date on which the order is entered, the agency shall, at the location described in section 4(a)-- (1) maintain the rescinded guidance document;
<all>
SEC.
7.
RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) Validity of Guidance Documents.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that noncompliance with any provision of this Act affects or otherwise impacts the validity of any guidance document.
(b) Congressional Review of Guidance Documents.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect or otherwise impact whether a guidance document is subject to congressional review under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC.
8.
REPORT ON AGENCY COMPLIANCE.
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the compliance of agencies with this Act.
Calendar No.
565 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
252 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To increase access to agency guidance documents.
_______________________________________________________________________ September 14, 2026 Reported with an amendment
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Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

  3. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 531 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (531)

531 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 531 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights elections technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 252 do?
Guidance Out Of Darkness Act or the GOOD Act This bill establishes requirements concerning the posting of agency guidance documents. Specifically, an agency must publish guidance documents online on the dates they are issued, publish all of its guidance documents that are in effect in a single location on a designated website, display a hyperlink on its website that provides access to the guidance documents on such website, and indicate on such website if a guidance document has been rescinded. The documents must be categorized as guidance documents and further divided into subcategories.
Who sponsors S 252?
S 252 is sponsored by Cramer, Kevin (Republican), Ernst, Joni (Republican), Lankford, James (Republican), Tillis, Thomas (Republican), Blackburn, Marsha (Republican), Budd, Ted (Republican), Schmitt, Eric (Republican), Marshall, Roger (Republican), Sheehy, Tim (Republican), Lee, Mike (Republican), Lummis, Cynthia M. (Republican), Scott, Rick (Republican), Hoeven, John (Republican), Risch, James E. (Republican), McCormick, David (Republican), and Johnson, Ron (Republican).
What is the current status of S 252?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 252?
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