YES on 1 (Public Records Law)
A YES on Question 1 would expand the public records law to include the Governor and the State Legislature.
Why YES on 1
Massachusetts remains the only state in the US where both the executive and legislative branch of state government claim full exemption from public records law.
When executive records like calendars, emails and texts, visitor logs, and call logs are fully kept secret, the public is left in the dark about whom the Governor is meeting and why, and what they are prioritizing.
A lack of legislative transparency stifles the democratic process. The most moneyed interests are those who benefit from closed, hierarchical systems because they can work their way behind closed doors.
Although there has been recent progress toward legislative transparency in the 2025 update to the joint rules, the Legislature is not reliably following its own rules, and rules offer a much weaker guarantee than statute.
Who Is Behind Question 1?
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is leading the effort for YES on 1.
The top funders of the ballot committee for YES on 1 are DiZoglio’s campaign committee, a few of her individual donors from around her old legislative district, a former Republican candidate for governor, and unions like the Massachusetts Teachers Association and NAGE.
Write a Letter to the Editor
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Massachusetts remains the only state in the US where both the executive and legislative branch of state government claim full exemption from public records law.
When executive records like calendars, emails and texts, visitor logs, and call logs are fully kept secret, the public is left in the dark about whom the Governor is meeting and why, and what they are prioritizing.
Moreover, a lack of legislative transparency stifles the democratic process. The most moneyed interests are those who benefit from closed, hierarchical systems because they can work their way behind closed doors.
Although there has been recent progress toward legislative transparency in the 2025 update to the joint rules, the Legislature is not reliably following its own rules, and rules offer a much weaker guarantee than statute.
Question 1 on the November ballot will change this. By subjecting the Governor and the Legislature to the public records law, we would be strengthening democracy and accountability as well as cultivating public trust at a time when that is so desperately needed in politics.
Read More
- Gomez, Jessie. “Massachusetts Public Records Law among the Country’s Most Restrictive.” MuckRock. October 18, 2018. https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2018/oct/18/massachusetts-transparency/.
- National Conference on State Legislatures. “Public Records Law and State Legislatures.” April 16, 2025.