S. 252 — GOOD Act

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act: (1) "agency" as having the meaning given in 5 U.S.C. §551 (i.e., each authority of the U.S. government, excluding Congress, courts, territorial governments, D.C. government, and certain other entities); (2) "Director" as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and (3) "guidance document" as an agency statement of general applicability—other than a binding rule under 5 U.S.C. §553—that lacks the force of law but is designated by an agency official as setting forth a policy or interpretation on a statutory, regulatory, or technical issue (e.g., memoranda, notices, bulletins, directives, news releases, letters, blog posts, no-action letters, or agency official speeches), with such term construed broadly.

This section requires each federal agency to publish guidance documents (i.e., non-binding agency policy statements, interpretations, or advisories) on a single internet website designated by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget not later than 90 days after enactment, with prominent hyperlinks on each agency's website providing access to the documents organized by category and subcategory. Agencies must publish (1) newly issued guidance documents on the date of issuance and (2) previously issued guidance documents in effect not later than 180 days after enactment. Guidance documents or information exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act are not subject to these requirements. For rescinded guidance documents, agencies must maintain them on the designated website and indicate the rescission date, and if pursuant to a court order, the case number.