SEVERAL bills passed last week by the 31st Guam Legislature are now either at or on their way to the Governor’s Office for review and hopeful enactment.
According to a statement from Sen. Rory Respicio, Committee on Rules chairman, 14 bills were passed and four resolutions were adopted, and three appointments were confirmed.
There were two bills that failed to meet the required number of votes during session. They are Bills 404-31 and 443-31.
Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz’s attempt to amend the recently enacted Public Law 31-188 didn’t meet the minimum number of eight votes.
The law allows village mayors to block off routed and non-routed streets for events such as village fiestas and funerals without having to get a permit from the Department of Public Works.
Earlier, the Federal Highway Administration sent a letter to the government of Guam warning the new law could jeopardize federal funding, more specifically for routed roads where major projects are to be done or are currently ongoing.
Cruz, in a previous interview, made it clear that the original version of the legislation was only for non-routed roads or secondary roads, so he introduced Bill 443-31 to make that correction.
But there was an even split in the vote for the bill, with seven “Yes” votes and seven “No” votes. There was one excused absence which was Sen. Ben Pangelinan.
Bill 404-31, co-sponsored by Sens. Chris Duenas, Frank Blas Jr. and Tony Ada, sought to add a new section of GCA Title 3 on elections relative to candidates for elective office. The measure would’ve allowed for independent candidates to turn in forms in a similar manner as partisan candidates.
The bill received six “Yes” votes, eight “No” votes, and one excused absence.
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