Governor signs 4 bills of social & economic impact into law

Several pieces of legislation signed into law by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón address issues ranging from childhood cancer awareness to promotion of manufacturing to expanded rights for vulnerable populations.

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has signed four bills into law, including one from her administration, addressing issues ranging from childhood cancer awareness to promotion of manufacturing to expanded rights for vulnerable populations.

She made the announcement Tuesday but the new laws were enacted over the weekend.

The first is Law 157-2025, sponsored by District 38 Rep. Wanda del Valle, designates Sept. 4 as “Childhood Leukemia Awareness Day” in Puerto Rico. The law also mandates the use of orange and gold ribbons to symbolize support for children battling leukemia and their caregivers. According to the American Cancer Society, leukemia is the most common cancer among children and adolescents. Data from Puerto Rico’s Central Cancer Registry ranks leukemia among the top 10 cancers for both men and women.

The governor also enacted the License Portability for Military Spouses. Law 158-2025, authored by District 7 Rep. Luis “Junior” Pérez Ortiz and co-authored by at-large Rep. José Aponte Hernández, updates the License Portability Act of Puerto Rico to include the U.S. Space Force. The measure ensures that spouses of Space Force members, along with other military personnel, reservists and National Guard members, can benefit from expedited professional license recognition. The U.S. Space Force was established in 2019 as the sixth branch of the Armed Forces.

González Colón also enacted the Manufacturing Day Alignment. Law 159-2025, introduced by House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez (District 36), amends the Puerto Rico Manufacturing Month and Day Act to align Manufacturing Day with the first Friday of October, as observed in the United States. The law also requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation and authorizes the Department of Economic Development and Commerce to promote the event. Manufacturing has been a cornerstone of Puerto Rico’s economy for more than 75 years, according to a recent executive order.

Law 160-2025, an administration-backed measure, creates the Uniform Law of Supplementary Rights for the Population with Functional Diversity and Older Adults. The law standardizes identification and rights for those groups, consolidating services under a single ID card issued by the Department of Transportation and Public Works. It also repeals outdated statutes to streamline processes and improve access to priority services.