Governor signs 5 bills, issues 6 vetoes citing fiscal concerns.

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Tuesday signed into law five measures -- two of them from her administration -- aimed at modernizing government structures, updating criminal statutes, and strengthening protections for vulnerable populations.

She also vetoed six bills, most for lacking identified funding sources or for conflicting with Puerto Rico’s certified Fiscal Plan.

The governor’s office said the approved measures “adapt laws to the current legal system to make them more efficient,” while the vetoed bills would have imposed “tax burdens without sources of income … which would disrupt the fiscal health of the island,” according to the administration.

5 measures signed into law

Law 83-2026 (House Bill [HB] 832) Authored by Rep. Jerry Nieves Rosario, the law declares June 30 as Awareness Day for Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC). The Department of Health must develop educational activities to raise awareness about this congenital neuromuscular condition, which becomes evident at birth and is caused by restricted fetal movement during pregnancy. The administration said the measure promotes a “more conscious, empathetic and inclusive society.”

Law 84-2026 (HB 873) An administration bill, the measure completes the legal and administrative reorganization of the Government Development Bank (GDB) following its debt restructuring and operational closure. It dissolves inactive GDB subsidiaries -- including the Puerto Rico Shipping Authority and the Puerto Rico Telephone Authority -- and formally establishes the Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority as an independent public corporation. The secretary of housing and the executive director of the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (AAFAF) will now serve as ex-officio members of its board.

Law 85-2026 (Senate Bill [SB] 42) Sponsored by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz and several other senators, the law updates the Suspended Sentencing Law to align it with the 2012 Penal Code and the 2020 Weapons Act. It explicitly excludes from probation crimes such as sexual assault, spousal sexual assault, rape, sodomy, incest, aggravated kidnapping, and child pornography, as well as certain weapons offenses already excluded under special criminal statutes.

Law 86-2026 (SB 613) Another administration bill, the measure repeals Act 40-2012 and creates the Puerto Rico Health Information Exchange Promotion and Exchange Act. It modernizes the island’s legal framework for electronic clinical data exchange to comply with federal interoperability standards. The Medicaid Program is designated as the State Designated Entity to oversee the Puerto Rico Health Information Exchange (PRHIE), and an advisory council will be created. The law also guarantees patients the right to opt out of the PRHIE, except when legally required.

Law 87-2026 (SB 1120) Also led by Rivera Schatz, the amendment to the 2019 Elderly Bill of Rights establishes criteria for issuing temporary guardianships for at-risk older adults as part of protection orders. Both municipal and superior judges are empowered to issue such orders. The bill replaces a previous version vetoed in December due to technical inconsistencies; the governor’s team drafted corrective language to ensure passage.

Six measures vetoed

HB 437 The bill would have redirected 35% of revenue from sign and advertisement fees to municipalities. The governor vetoed it because it lacked required agency authorizations and could force immediate budget reprogramming. The Department of Economic Development and Commerce estimated the measure would reduce government revenue by $350 million annually.

HB 909 The proposal sought to create the Water Safety Month and Lifeguard Day Act and establish a fund to support related initiatives. The administration warned the bill imposed new fiscal and operational obligations on agencies and municipalities without identifying a recurring funding source. Suggested amendments were rejected by the Legislature, prompting an express veto.

HB 593 The measure would have created the Puerto Rico Government Procurement Transparency Act, requiring exempt entities to publish procurement information online. While acknowledging the value of transparency, the governor cited technical and fiscal deficiencies. The Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service warned the bill imposed complex technological mandates without mechanisms for implementation or integration with the government’s ongoing ERP system rollout.

House Joint Resolution (HJR) 96 The resolution ordered a feasibility study and potential widening of PR-670 in Vega Baja. The administration said it violated the Fiscal Plan’s requirement for fiscal neutrality by committing DTOP funds already allocated to other projects.

HJR 181 The measure would have designated PR-7721 as “Paseo de la Celebración del Bicentenario de Aibonito.” The Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Highways and Transportation Authority, and the mayor of Aibonito opposed the name, calling it too long for signage and expressing lack of support.

Senate Joint Resolution 125 The proposal sought to create a pilot program under the Family Department to provide coordinated services for neurodivergent adults. The governor vetoed it due to the absence of a clear, recurring funding source, warning it could jeopardize other essential services.