Guam Legislature advances package of bills, appends agency responses and confirms nominations

The Guam Legislature reconvened and moved a series of floor amendments, record insertions and final votes on a broad daily file that included housing, education, public-safety and land-use measures.

Vice Speaker moved to reconsider and amend Bill 79-38 COR to restore language directing proceeds from a land sale in New Agat into the Chamorro Land Trust survey and infrastructure fund so the bill's body matched its title; the amendment was ordered without objection. "The purpose of this amendment is just to correct an oversight by making the body of the bill consistent with the title regarding the disposition of the proceeds of the sale," the Vice Speaker said on the floor.

Senator Barnett raised a point of information about Bill 235-38 (Simon Sanchez High School), saying a newly filed action related to procurement predevelopment tasks had been submitted and asking that the document be appended to Bill 235's committee report and distributed to members for review before voting. Barnett later withdrew a motion to return the bill to second reading after the body agreed to have clerks pass the document out to members.

The body also reconsidered Bill 150-38 LS so the responses from the Department of Land Management and the Department of Agriculture could be added to the session journal and committee report. The Department of Land Management noted that rezoning-related information is not maintained in a consolidated package, that no rezoning application for the parcel was found back to 2018, and that adjacent-owner records are not maintained outside Guam Land Use Commission files. The Department of Agriculture acknowledged an internal review and raised concerns about continued conversion of agricultural land and the lack of an established agricultural impact-statement process.

Votes at a glance:
- Bill 29-38 COR (prohibit housing discrimination based on source of income): passed, roll call 15–0.
- Bill 138-38 COR (amend intoxication defense): passed, roll call 15–0.
- Bill 162-38 COR (increase penalties for terroristic conduct, incl. bomb threats): passed, roll call 15–0.
- Bill 169-38 COR (establish Guam Community Health Centers as autonomous agency): passed, roll call 15–0.
- Bill 195-38 COR (rename George Washington Football Field to Lorraine Santos Cruz Field): passed, 14–1.
- Bill 202-38 COR (Guam Veterans Higher Education Benefits Act): passed, 11–4.
- Bill 210-38 COR (rules to implement Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, PL 36-118): passed, 15–0.
- Bill 215-38 COR (waive sanitary permit fees for student support fundraisers): passed, 15–0.
- Bill 217-38 COR (authorize electricians to certify weatherhead inspections): passed, 12–3.
- Bill 235-38 COR (finance and predevelopment expenses for Simon Sanchez High School): passed, 10–5.
- Bill 240-38 LS (permit temporary workforce housing in M-1 zones): passed, 12–3.
- Bill 251-38 COR (change Guam Community College Board composition): passed, 15–0.
- Bill 150-38 LS (rezoning Lot 5228, Barrigada to M-1): passed after appended records, 12–3.
- Bill 79-38 COR (authorize sale of portion of Block 8, New Agat; proceeds to Chamorro Land Trust infrastructure & survey fund): passed, 12–3.

The legislature also confirmed multiple nominations by voice or roll call — including Anthony P. Vinivetti, Doris Flores Brooks, David J.N. Camacho, Evangeline M. Cipeda, Matthew E. Lintiaco, Rose P. Greeno — and confirmed Karen L. Watson (Colonel, U.S. Army, retired) as Adjutant General by roll call (15 yays).

What changed in the record
- The House ordered into the session journal a letter and committee-report attachment from a member seeking DLM clarification on land ownership for lots related to Bill 79-38, and the responses from DLM and the Department of Agriculture were appended to Bill 150-38's committee report for the record.

Context and next steps
Several measures advanced to final reading and passage during this session; the body agreed to distribute a procurement-related filing tied to the Simon Sanchez project for member review before further action. The session adjourned subject to the Speaker's call.