By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Guam senators have jumpstarted their work at the 38th Guam Legislature, offering several bills— some are new, while others are carried over from the previous legislature.
Sen. Shawn Gumataotao today proposed the rollback of the business privilege tax rate from 5 percent to 4 percent.
He noted that the BPT rate was raised in 2018 as an interim solution to replace revenue lost as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
“I made a commitment during the 2024 campaign to work on restoring the 4 percent BPT and the bill that I introduced today is intended to help facilitate a much-needed conversation at the policy and implementation levels,” said Gumataotao, a first-term Republican senator.
His second bill proposes to increase life insurance benefits from $10,000 to $100,000 for public safety and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
“I introduced this bill as part of a broader legislative approach to recruiting and retaining officers across our government, particularly at a time when agencies continue to lose employees to federal and military entities faster than our government is able to fill these critical vacancies,” Gumataotao said.
Sen. Will Parkinson has revived a proposal to extend the Prugråman Ayuda Para I Taotao-ta Energy Credit Program for three months. The 37th Guam Legislature passed a similar bill, which was vetoed by the governor.
This extension will provide a $100 monthly credit for March, April and May 2025 to all Guam Power Authority customers.
Under Bill 9-38, the proposed program extension, totaling $15.828 million, would be funded through fiscal 2025 general fund revenues collected above the levels adopted in Public Law 37-125.
According to the government's Consolidated Revenue and Expenditure Reports, Guam collected $7.7 million in revenue above projections during October and November 2024, the first two months of the fiscal year.
The Prugråman Ayuda Para I Taotao-ta Energy Credit Program, first established by Public Law 36-106, has provided much-needed support by directly reducing energy bills.
Sen. Shelly Calvo’s Bill 23-38, titled the Uniform Property Transfer on Death Act, would authorize an owner to pass real property to a beneficiary at the owner’s death simply, directly, and without probate by executing a transfer on death deed.
“Currently our people cannot leave their home to a beneficiary without going through probate or another costly estate planning measure such as creating a trust,” said Calvo, a Republican. “This bill would ease the cost and difficulty for our working class people by providing a simple mechanism to designate a beneficiary to inherit their property when they pass.”
Last week, Sen. Sabina Flores Perez introduced seven bills aimed at advancing government accountability, public safety, equity and sustainability.
“The people of Guam deserve a government that acts decisively and with purpose. These bills demonstrate my commitment to creating a safer, fairer, and more efficient community for all of us,” Perez said.
Her bills (which were yet-to-be-numbered as of last week) are as follows:
Audit recommendations: To authorize the public auditor to enforce audit recommendations, ensuring agencies follow through on corrective action plans.
Judicial review clarity: To streamline the procedures for reviewing procurement appeals will reduce delays and increase the efficiency of government operations.
Merit system reporting: New reporting requirements will promote fairness in government hiring by addressing the overuse of unclassified appointments.
Streetlight Fund Update: To guarantee funding for timely streetlight installation and maintenance, enhancing road safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Housing anti-discrimination act: To combat housing discrimination by prohibiting biases against tenants based on their income source.
Universal garbage collection: A comprehensive island-wide plan that lowers waste collection costs while offering discounted rates for low-income households.
Environmental trust fund: To strengthen funding for the Guam Environmental Protection Agency to bolster compliance and enforcement of Guam environmental laws to protect our aquifer and Guam’s abundant water resources, curbs illegal dumping in order to protect the health of our people and environment for ours and future generations.
Sen. Telo Taitague last week introduced bills to increase government accountability, ensure transparency in public property leasing, secure healthcare funding and safeguard the community.
Her bills are as follows:
Oversight of Public Funds: To authorize the public auditor to directly communicate with departments and officials responsible for managing government funds. The bill proposes a $250 personal penalty on agency heads for every 30 days of non-compliance and mandates the referral of unpaid fines to the Office of the Attorney General.
Enhancing Transparency in Public Property Leases: To regulate the commercial leasing of public property and facilities by extending lease terms from five to 10 years while maintaining strict limits on renewals. It also permits longer lease terms through an “exceptional term contract,” which must be justified and approved by the governor or board of directors. Additionally, the bill requires legislative approval and public hearings for leases exceeding 10 years.
Funding for Guam Cancer programs: To allocate a minimum of 15 percent of tobacco tax revenues, or $4 million annually (whichever is higher), for cancer screening, treatment, support services, cancer education, and outreach programs.
Restoring fireworks ban: To repeal the legalization of the use and sale of consumer-grade fireworks.
Creation of COLA Task Force: To address the economic challenges faced by retirees through inflation-adjusted cost-of-living allowances.
Clarity and accountability in real estate transactions: To mandate written real estate brokerage agreements, effectively providing transparency and accountability for all parties involved in real estate transactions by modernizing Guam’s real estate practices.
Accountability within GVB: To reinforces accountability, inclusivity, and transparency within the Guam Visitor Bureau’s operations to align the agency with Guam’s broader economic and legal priorities.
Establishing the Community Defense Liaison Office: To codify the Community Defense Liaison Office (formerly known as the Guam Military Buildup Office), which was authorized by Executive Order 2020-39, and officially recognizes the entity within the Guam Code Annotated, ultimately securing its place in Guam’s military department.
Sen. San Agustin is proposing to extend the government commercial lease agreements from five to 30 years to attract new business investors and increased government revenue.
The ENDS Excise Act of 2025: To establish an Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Product Tax and Licensing which shall be cited as the “ENDS Excise Act of 2025” and to establish a Department of Revenue and Taxation and a Guam Memorial Hospital Authority Revolving Fund.
Credit card processing fee prohibition: To prohibit the government of Guam from passing on fees charged by credit card processors to collect payment of taxes or use the government of Guam services.
Minimum wage hike: To increase the local minimum wage on Guam based on the fiscal year Consumer Price Index.
Veterans recognition: To recognize veterans through specialized license plate designs to show appreciation and gratitude for their service.
Special Olympics land transfer: To transfer property to Special Olympics Guam for the establishment of its administrative office and training facility in support of Guam’s Special Olympics athletes and program.
CLTC competitive bid for mass grading: Relative to requiring the Chamorro Land Trust to solicit competitive bids for the mass grading and mineral extraction of a portion of Lot 5412 in Mangilao.
"Several of these bills were introduced during the previous legislative term, and unfortunately, some did not progress beyond the introduction stage, missing opportunities for public input and thorough deliberation,” San Agustin said.
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