Strengthening the Public Information Act Through Required Response Legislation

September 28, 2022

James Quintero

James Quintero is the policy director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Government for the People campaign. Since joining the Foundation in 2008, Quintero has focused extensively on: state & local government spending, taxes, debt, public pension reform, annexation, and local regulations.

Ellis Jacoby

Ellis Jacoby is a rising junior at Trinity University majoring in Political Science and International Studies, and minoring in German. He serves as the chairman of the Trinity University YCT chapter and is the editor-in-chief of the Tower, the first student-run conservative publication at Trinity. He previously interned for the World Affairs Council of Houston and the Chip Roy 2020 reelection campaign. He is also a Heritage Foundation Academy Fellow, a Leadership Institute Campus Ambassador, and the President of his Thomistic Institute Chapter at Trinity.

In theory, the Texas Public Information Act is a powerful tool that allows Texans to probe their government’s dealings. However, in practice, the law falls short due, in part, to the absence of any meaningful accountability mechanism.

Key points

The Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) sets forth an aspirational framework to guarantee the public’s right to access government documents and information. Unfortunately, the law is different in theory and in practice.
Some government officials ignore requests or do not respond in a timely manner. This creates distrust in government and undermines the public’s right to know.
The public has a right to know what their government officials are doing and why.
Reforms are needed to strengthen the TPIA and foster public trust in government.

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James Quintero

Ellis Jacoby

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