Legislative Updates

Greetings!

You are probably aware by now that the Chamber has produced a Legislative Scorecard to rank the individual senators in the 37th Guam Legislature based on their support (or non-support) of business-friendly measures. If you haven't had a chance to view the scorecard, feel free to view it by clicking here.

The Guam Legislature has just passed the FY2024 budget which now awaits the action of Governor Leon Guerrero. Read more about this below.

The Legislature is back in full swing and has placed public hearings on the schedule this month. To date, there have been 164 bills introduced since January this year. If any of these proposals impact your company, industry, or your ability to do business, be sure to inform your Guam Chamber and let your senators know by advising them of your concerns. We have provided their individual contact information at the bottom of this correspondence.

We always appreciate your feedback. Please free to email me or any of our Legislative Review Committee Members.

Thank you,

Catherine Castro

President

The Guam Legislature Passes $1.16B Budget

The 37th Guam Legislature announced that the budget bill [Bill No. 26-37] was passed with nine (9) passing votes and six (6) votes against the bill. It was noted that the group voted along party lines with all six Republicans voting against the bill and all nine Democrats voting in favor of the bill's passing. Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero has ten days to act on Bill No. 26-37 which was transmitted on August 30th. View the Bill as transmitted to the Governor.

Watch Recording: You can view the voting process of this bill by clicking here.

Bill No. 164-37: Seeks to provide emergency funding to the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) to pay vendor payments and needed repairs from unappropriated FY 22 & 23 audited excess funds.

Bill No. 157-37: Seeks to increase the number of senators to twenty-one.

Bill No. 152-37: "The Bureaucracy Simplicity Act" which eliminates the unnecessary or unenforceable regulations that present roadblocks for individuals who wish to start a business.

Bill No. 151-37: Seeks to prohibit the production and use of nuclear energy on Guam.

A Public Hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. If you are interested in providing testimony, please send to the Office of Senator Sabina Flores Perez via email at office@senatorperez.org.

Bill No. 145-37: Creation of a Government of Guam Lottery Commission

Bill No. 142-37: Increases net metering capacity from 100 kilowatts to 500 kilowatts for GPA non-residential class customers.

A Public Hearing is scheduled on Thursday, September 7, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If you are interested in providing testimony, please send it to the Office of Senator William A. Parkinson via email senatorparkinson@guamlegislature.org

You can view more bills and the status of these proposals on the Guam Legislature's website.

View Legislative Resolutions

View: Government of Guam Public Notice Portal

Guam Broadband Infrastructure 5-Year Action Plan

The Office of the Governor announced the release of its Guam Five-Year Action Plan for the future of high-speed internet. This effort represents a significant step forward in our island's efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access for all Guam residents.

View the 5-Year Action Plan