Mayors Federation outlines its work plan for new legislative session

Mayors Federation President Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez

By The Star Staff

The Puerto Rico Mayors Federation board of directors met on Sunday to outline the legislative agenda it will promote in the new session, which begins today at the Capitol.

The organization, which gathers New Progressive Party mayors, announced that it will present amendments to the electoral ban and the Municipal Code, with the goal of modernizing provisions it considers obsolete.

Mayors Federation President Gabriel “Gaby” Hernández Rodríguez noted that part of the focus will be on correcting provisions regarding the prohibition of official messages and publications during election years.

“The way the ban is written is archaic and does not respond to current reality,” the Camuy mayor said. “It is unreasonable that we are forced to cover up a mayor’s name on municipal projects. That does not happen in the United States or in other jurisdictions. It is time to update it and adapt it to the times.”

As part of that effort, the board of directors agreed to appoint a special committee to prepare a report with recommendations on amendments to the Electoral Code. The group, chaired by San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero and composed of the mayors of Toa Baja, San Germán, Naranjito and Canóvanas, will evaluate the municipal executives’ proposals regarding the electoral and advertising ban, with the goal of submitting a package of proposals to the Legislative Assembly.

In addition, the Federation announced that it will introduce changes to the Municipal Code related to the municipal police to address mayors’ complaints and standardize criteria for managing towns’ security forces. Among the measures to be promoted are the recognition of the rank of deputy commissioner, the formal classification of municipal police officers as public order officers, the creation of a training reimbursement mechanism, and adjustments to the personnel transfer procedure.

Hernández Rodríguez noted that those provisions “will strengthen the structure of the municipal police forces and provide greater stability to the men and women who work daily on the front lines of security in our communities.”

During the meeting, the results of the 2024-2025 fiscal year were also presented. The federation managed the allocation of $222.3 million in state funds for initiatives that directly impact communities. Among the projects are payments to the municipal housekeeper program, the establishment of a third shift of paramedics to strengthen health services, the creation of an extraordinary fund to address solid waste collection and disposal, and special allocations for direct service programs for citizens.

Hernández Rodríguez emphasized that those funds respond to requests from mayors to improve the provision of essential services.

“These resources allow municipalities to address the immediate needs of their people without having to rely on centralized processes that often delay our interventions,” he said. “The Federation is a vehicle for ensuring that the communities in our municipalities receive more agile and effective services.”

The board meeting served as a prelude to the PR Mayor’s Summit 2025, to be held in October. The event will bring together mayors from across Puerto Rico along with experts in governance and local development to discuss regional collaboration strategies, innovation in municipal services, and new fiscal tools.