What does Texas HB4219 do?
HB4219 eliminates the "pocket veto" in the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). Governmental bodies are now statutorily required to explicitly notify requestors if no responsive records exist or if a previous ruling is being used to withhold data. Failure to comply triggers an immediate prohibition on charging fees and, most critically, strips the agency of its ability to withhold information—potentially exposing private sector trade secrets—unless a "compelling reason" is proven within a strict 5-day window.