Guam legislators advance Bill No. 165-38 COR to extend driver-license conversion window to 90 days

A bill to extend the time new arrivals may drive while converting an out‑of‑jurisdiction driver’s license from 30 days to 90 days was advanced to the third‑reading/voting file during a floor session on Bill No. 165‑38 COR. The sponsor also added a floor amendment requiring new residents to register their existing license in person or electronically with the Department of Revenue and Taxation (DRT).

The sponsor (Speaker 3 in the transcript) said the change gives new residents more time to complete license conversions without causing revenue loss and would ‘‘reduce immediate pressure on DRT’s limited testing and licensing resources.’’ The sponsor said the registration process ‘‘strengthens DRT’s oversight capacity’’ and noted the bill ‘‘empowers DRT to deny registration if a license cannot be verified’’ to guard against fraud.

Supporters on the floor voiced acceptance of the amended language. One colleague explicitly stated support for the update, and the sponsor invited cosponsorship from members present; Senator Tina Munoz Barnes was named as a cosponsor and the sponsor moved to add all members on the floor as cosponsors. The presiding officer announced there were no objections and the motions carried.

Formal motions recorded on the floor included adding Bill No. 165‑38 COR, as amended, to the third‑reading/voting file and adding cosponsors. Both motions were carried by voice with no objections recorded on the transcript. The sponsor repeatedly framed the change as a practical measure to help new residents manage transportation needs on Guam, stressing that personal vehicles are often necessary on the island and that limited public transit makes a longer conversion window important.

The amendment’s registration requirement specifies that a person seeking the extension register his or her license either in person or electronically with DRT; the sponsor said the agency would use its existing renewals technology to implement the requirement. The sponsor also said DRT would have authority to verify, refuse, or deny registration if a license is expired, revoked, or cannot be confirmed.

Next steps: the measure was placed on the third‑reading/voting file for a future floor vote. The session recessed until 10:00 a.m. the following day.