Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Transparency is essential to holding government accountable but are Texas taxpayers getting the access to public information they deserve?
In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Kelley Shannon, Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, to discuss the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), the obstacles Texans can face when requesting government records, and reforms lawmakers could consider during the 2027 legislative session.
The Texas Public Information Act is built on the principle that government information is presumed open unless a legal exception applies. But delays, excessive cost estimates, misuse of the Attorney General ruling process, and broad interpretations of exemptions can make accessing public records more difficult.
Jose and Kelley discuss how these barriers affect everyday Texans seeking information about their cities, counties, school districts, and other governmental entities. They also examine concerns surrounding attorney-client privilege, litigation exemptions, government information held by outside vendors, and taxpayer-funded partnerships with private or quasi-governmental organizations.
The conversation also looks ahead to potential Texas government transparency reforms in the 90th Texas Legislature, including reducing delays, reviewing commonly abused exemptions, strengthening enforcement of the Public Information Act, improving recovery of attorney’s fees for successful requestors, and encouraging governments to proactively publish frequently requested records online.
In this episode:
• How the Texas Public Information Act works
• Why open records are a taxpayer issue
• Delays and excessive costs for public records requests
• The role of the Texas Attorney General in open-records disputes
• Attorney-client privilege and litigation exemptions
• Transparency involving government contractors and outside organizations
• Proactive disclosure of frequently requested government records
• Potential Public Information Act reforms for the 2027 Texas legislative session
• How stronger enforcement could improve government accountability
Texans have a right to know what their government is doing and where their tax dollars are going. Strengthening transparency can give taxpayers the information they need to hold public officials and government institutions accountable.
Subscribe to Taxpayer Empowerment for more conversations on Texas government transparency, taxpayer protection, property taxes, local government accountability, and public policy.
#Texas #TexasPolitics #TexasLegislature #TxLege #GovernmentTransparency #OpenRecords #PublicInformationAct #TaxpayerEmpowerment #GovernmentAccountability #TexasTaxpayers
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.
The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.
Website: texaspolicy.com
X: twitter.com/tppf
Facebook: facebook.com/texaspolicy
Instagram: instagram.com/texaspolicy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation
Transparency is essential to holding government accountable but are Texas taxpayers getting the access to public information they deserve?
In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Kelley Shannon, Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, to discuss the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), the obstacles Texans can face when requesting government records, and reforms lawmakers could consider during the 2027 legislative session.
The Texas Public Information Act is built on the principle that government information is presumed open unless a legal exception applies. But delays, excessive cost estimates, misuse of the Attorney General ruling process, and broad interpretations of exemptions can make accessing public records more difficult.
Jose and Kelley discuss how these barriers affect everyday Texans seeking information about their cities, counties, school districts, and other governmental entities. They also examine concerns surrounding attorney-client privilege, litigation exemptions, government information held by outside vendors, and taxpayer-funded partnerships with private or quasi-governmental organizations.
The conversation also looks ahead to potential Texas government transparency reforms in the 90th Texas Legislature, including reducing delays, reviewing commonly abused exemptions, strengthening enforcement of the Public Information Act, improving recovery of attorney’s fees for successful requestors, and encouraging governments to proactively publish frequently requested records online.
In this episode:
• How the Texas Public Information Act works
• Why open records are a taxpayer issue
• Delays and excessive costs for public records requests
• The role of the Texas Attorney General in open-records disputes
• Attorney-client privilege and litigation exemptions
• Transparency involving government contractors and outside organizations
• Proactive disclosure of frequently requested government records
• Potential Public Information Act reforms for the 2027 Texas legislative session
• How stronger enforcement could improve government accountability
Texans have a right to know what their government is doing and where their tax dollars are going. Strengthening transparency can give taxpayers the information they need to hold public officials and government institutions accountable.
Subscribe to Taxpayer Empowerment for more conversations on Texas government transparency, taxpayer protection, property taxes, local government accountability, and public policy.
#Texas #TexasPolitics #TexasLegislature #TxLege #GovernmentTransparency #OpenRecords #PublicInformationAct #TaxpayerEmpowerment #GovernmentAccountability #TexasTaxpayers
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.
The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.
Website: texaspolicy.com
X: twitter.com/tppf
Facebook: facebook.com/texaspolicy
Instagram: instagram.com/texaspolicy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation
