Plain Language Summary
# GOOD Act Summary **What It Does:** The GOOD Act (Guidance Out Of Darkness Act) would require federal agencies to make their guidance documents more transparent and accessible to the public. Specifically, agencies would have to post guidance documents online on the day they're issued, compile all active guidance documents in one designated website location, clearly categorize these documents, and mark which ones have been rescinded (canceled). The Government Accountability Office would then audit whether agencies are following these rules within five years. **Who It Affects:** This bill affects federal agencies and the general public.
Agencies would need to comply with new posting and organizational requirements for their guidance documents. Citizens, businesses, and organizations would benefit from easier access to agency guidance, since these documents explain how federal rules are interpreted and applied in practice—information many people currently have to hunt for across multiple agency websites. **Current Status:** The bill passed the House of Representatives. It has not yet been voted on by the Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Guidance Out Of Darkness Act or the GOOD ActThis 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provides access to the guidance documents on such website, and indicate on such website if a guidance document has been rescinded.The documents must be categorized as guidance documents and further divided into subcategories.No later than five years after the enactment of this bill, the Government Accountability Office must report on agency compliance with these requirements.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.