Governor Signs Five Laws and Vetoes Six Measures

On May 19, 2026, Governor Jenniffer González-Colón signed five new laws and vetoed six legislative measures, citing fiscal concerns and policy considerations.

Newly Enacted Laws

• Law 83 of 2026: Declares June 30 as the Day of Awareness for Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita in Puerto Rico, mandating the Department of Health to develop educational activities about this congenital neuromuscular condition.
• Law 84 of 2026: Establishes the Law for the Reorganization of Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Government Development Bank, aiming to complete the legal and administrative restructuring of the bank following the transfer of functions to the Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority.
• Law 85 of 2026: Harmonizes the Suspended Sentence Law with the 2012 Penal Code and the 2020 Weapons Law, explicitly excluding certain serious offenses from eligibility for probation.
• Law 86 of 2026: Creates the Law to Promote and Establish the Health Information Exchange of Puerto Rico, modernizing the legal framework for electronic clinical data exchange and designating the Medicaid Program to oversee its operation.
• Law 87 of 2026: Amends the Bill of Rights and Public Policy of the Government in favor of Older Adults, establishing criteria for issuing temporary guardianship for at-risk seniors as part of a protection order.

Vetoed Measures

• House Bill 437: Sought to remit 35% of revenues from rights and fines under the Uniform Sign and Advertisement Law to municipalities. The Department of Economic Development and Commerce certified that this measure would result in an annual revenue decrease of $350,000.
• House Bill 909: Proposed creating the Month of Aquatic Safety and Lifeguard Day, which was vetoed due to potential fiscal impacts and additional operational obligations without a specific funding source.
• House Bill 593: Aimed to establish the Government Procurement Transparency Law of Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Services (PRITS) warned that the measure imposed complex technological obligations without a clear implementation mechanism.
• House Joint Resolution 96: Called for a study to widen a section of PR-670 in Vega Baja.
• House Joint Resolution 181: Designated a section in Aibonito.
• Senate Joint Resolution 125: Created a pilot program for neurodivergent adults without a recurring funding source.

Governor González-Colón emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility and the need for clear funding sources when enacting new legislation. The signed laws address various social and administrative issues, while the vetoed measures were primarily rejected due to financial concerns and implementation challenges.