La Fortaleza outlines administration progress in legislative initiatives

Jean Peña Payano, legal adviser to Gov. Jenniffer González Colón

By THE STAR STAFF

Jean Peña Payano, legal adviser to Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, outlined the administration’s progress on legislative initiatives on Thursday, noting that more than 80 government-backed bills have been filed to date.

The La Fortaleza official expressed gratitude to the legislative branch and its leadaers -- Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz and House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez -- for their support in approving nearly 90% of the governor’s appointments and advancing core administration measures.

Peña Payano emphasized landmark legislation, starting with Law 2, aimed at strengthening the reliability of Puerto Rico’s electrical service and ensuring compliance with renewable energy goals through 2050. He also highlighted Law 1 and Law 2 on energy policy and Law 7 of 2025, which guarantees Puerto Rican women the right to direct care from an OB-GYN for up to one year postpartum -- without intermediaries or unnecessary authorizations -- a first in the island’s history.

Other notable measures include:

Law 9 of 2025: Establishes a liaison office for individuals with rare diseases, marking a historic step for these citizens.

Law 11 of 2025: Promotes folic acid education and prevention during early pregnancy stages.

Law 6 of 2025: Creates a unified digital record for individuals with functional diversity, integrating medical and educational data for greater efficiency.

Law 70 of 2025: Mandates inclusive summer camps for children with disabilities, ensuring equal access to recreation.

Law 83 of 2025: Launches Puerto Rico’s new police force, fulfilling a major campaign promise.

Law 84 of 2025: Strengthens the anti-corruption code by expanding interagency oversight and closing longstanding loopholes.

Law 21 of 2025: Requires mandatory domestic violence training for all judges in Puerto Rico.

On fiscal matters, Peña Payano pointed to Law 65 and Law 72 of 2025, which streamline tax processes between the Treasury Department and municipalities to ease compliance for small and midsize businesses. Additionally, Law 67 of 2025 modernizes agricultural incentives, ensuring transparency for bona fide farmers.

The administration also advanced protections for older adults, including amendments to the Bill of Rights for Seniors to encourage volunteer participation in government programs, and expanded the jurisdiction of the Special Investigations Bureau to tackle financial fraud targeting seniors.

“These measures reflect our commitment to turning words into action,” Peña Payano said, underscoring that the legislative agenda aligns with the government program endorsed by island voters.