POLITICS: Secrecy Returns to Puerto Rican Government – USSA News

Governor Jenniffer González has signed Senate Bill 63 into law, fundamentally weakening Puerto Rico’s 2019 Transparency Act. The legislation doubles the response time for public records requests and, critically, eliminates judicial oversight for classifying documents as confidential. This action reverses key transparency reforms and has been widely condemned by over 25 press freedom and civil rights organizations, who warn of a dangerous erosion of the public’s constitutional right to information and accountability.

Story Highlights

• Gov. Jenniffer González signed Senate Bill 63 on December 14, 2025, reversing key transparency reforms from 2019.
• New law doubles response times from 10 to 20 business days and allows up to 2.5 months for complex requests.
• Government agencies can now classify documents as confidential without judicial review or oversight.
• Puerto Rico’s global transparency ranking dropped from 94th to 106th place following the bill’s passage.
• Over 25 journalism and civil rights groups condemned the legislation as an assault on constitutional information rights.

Government Transparency Under Attack

Governor Jenniffer González signed Senate Bill 63 into law despite overwhelming opposition from press freedom advocates, fundamentally weakening Puerto Rico’s 2019 Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Access to Public Information Act.The legislation doubles response times for public records requests from 10 to 20 business days for documents under 300 pages and less than three years old. Complex requests can now take up to 2.5 months with extensions, creating significant barriers for journalists and citizens seeking government accountability.

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Puerto Rico’s governor signs polemic bill that critics say is a blow to democracy and will make it more difficult to access public information in a US territory long known for its lack of government transparencyhttps://t.co/YfbQM7WkDU

— Dánica Coto (@danicacoto) December 14, 2025

Constitutional Rights Eliminated

The new law strips away critical protections that safeguarded citizens’ constitutional right to information. Government agencies can now classify documents as confidential without judicial review, effectively allowing bureaucrats to determine what information the public can access. The legislation also eliminates privacy protections for requesters, removes obligations for agencies to provide data in requested formats, and permits denials for information deemed “dispersed” across multiple departments.

Legislative Process Bypassed Public Input

The New Progressive Party majority fast-tracked the legislation through both chambers with minimal public debate. The Senate approved SB 63 with 18 votes in favor and 9 against without holding any public hearings. The House followed suit with a 29-24 vote after just one day of short-notice public hearings in November. This rushed process denied Puerto Rican citizens meaningful opportunity to voice concerns about legislation affecting their fundamental transparency rights.

International Opposition Ignored

More than 25 journalism organizations and civil rights groups, including Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the ACLU of Puerto Rico, sent urgent letters demanding González veto the bill. Clayton Weimers from Reporters Without Borders called the signing “inconceivable” and warned of severe harm to press freedom. The International Press Institute described the legislation as a “dangerous infringement” that adds bureaucratic obstacles while denying constitutional rights to information.

This assault on transparency represents a troubling trend of government officials prioritizing administrative convenience over constitutional accountability. Puerto Rico’s citizens deserve better than politicians who shield themselves from scrutiny while claiming to serve the public interest. The law’s passage demonstrates how quickly elected officials can erode fundamental rights when they face insufficient checks on their power.

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