HJR 241 Summary

• Proposes constitutional amendments to expand public access to legislative records, meetings, and the budget process, requiring voter approval at the next general election.

• Requires circuit court review of legislative rules governing public access to records and meetings, allowing challenges to the reasonableness or interpretation of such rules.

• Prohibits conference committee members from discussing matters except at publicly noticed and open meetings.

• Restricts introduction of non-technical amendments during special sessions, the last 5 days of regular sessions, and session extensions unless adopted by committee or authorized by three-fourths vote of the house membership.

• Revises appropriations bill format requirements to make bills more readable by clearly identifying fund sources, purposes, and performance measures, and mandates general appropriations bills be products of joint conference committees.