The linguistic turn in Public Law: plain language evolution in Brazil from Law 14,129/2021 to Law 15,263/2025

Abstract

In this article we examine the principle of clear and comprehensible language in Brazilian public administration, originally established in Article 3, VII, of the Digital Government Law (Law No. 14,129/2021) and recently strengthened by the enactment of the National Plain Language Policy (Law No. 15,263/2025). It argues that intelligible public communication is not merely a stylistic preference but a normative requirement that structures transparency, democratic participation, and administrative efficiency in the digital State. Through documentary analysis of legislation, doctrinal developments, and institutional initiatives—including ENAP’s Rede Linguagem Simples Brasil, ANA’s Plain Language Program, and judicial efforts under the National Pact for Plain Language—the study maps emerging best practices and persistent challenges, such as cultural resistance, lack of objective clarity standards, and federative asymmetries in implementation. Special attention is given to the legal implications of transforming plain language into an enforceable duty, including the prohibition of nonstandard “neutral language” forms under Article 5, XI, of Law No. 15,263/2025, which reinforces the need for linguistic predictability and adherence to the VOLP. The article concludes by proposing methodological guidelines and governance mechanisms—such as readability metrics, communicative audits, and national drafting protocols—to institutionalize plain language as a central component of good administration and digital citizenship in Brazil.