Lawmakers debate land sale precedent & healthcare workforce reform

Debate inside the Guam Congress Building continued as lawmakers began their March session. On Monday, they took up two very different bills that ultimately raise the same questions about policy, precedent, and priority. 

Yesterday senators spent hours weighing two very different bills — one focused on a small piece of Government of Guam land, and the other on a critical gap in the island's healthcare system. First, Bill 131 by Vice Speaker Tony Ada seeks to allow the sale of a small CHamoru Land Trust Commission lot — just about 138 square meters — to a homeowner who built a required fence that crossed into government land.

“On this small sliver of land sits a fence that the adjacent land owner was required to construct by the Department of Public Works as a condition for the occupancy, following substantial renovations to the home," Ada stated. “Now, this lot has no practical or useful value to the CLTC as it sits between the adjacent landowner and a 200-foot drop cliff.”

Supporters pointed to previous assessments determining that the land was too small build on, unsuitable for farming, and can’t be used for utilities, roads, or other government purposes. They also argued the fence keeps residents safe from accidental falls over the cliff. 

Senator Chris Duenas said, “As for it having any shoreline impacts, there’s no shoreline there, Mr. Speaker. It’s 100 feet above. It’s on a cliff. And here, we’re actually talking about safety.”

But Senator Therese Terlaje says the bill actually sets a troubling precedent, noting, “It seems we are comfortable making a policy here that if a landowner encroaches on government property, we are going to give it to that landowner…as opposed to letting them fix their encroachment.”

Senator Will Parkinson adding that should this bill pass, the principle of equal protection under the law will open numerous similar cases to this one for GovGua to “take care of”. Senator Sabina Perez joined the bill’s opposition, calling it “death by a thousand cuts” to properties meant for land restoration, as well as risking lowering the debt ceiling by selling off GovGuam property. 

Despite the debate, Bill 131 was moved to the Third Reading File. 

Policymakers then turned to Bill 206 by Senator Telo Taitague, a measure aimed at addressing Guam’s shortage of doctors, especially, in public health and specialty care. Bill 206 would expand licensing pathways for foreign-trained doctors, while still requiring credentials, exams, and certification through federally recognized standards. 

“If Guam is to recruit and retain physicians, particularly in specialized fields or licensing framework, this must remain modern, clear, and competitive with other jurisdictions that have already taken steps to expand licensure pathways," she said.

The measure also formalizes Guam’s use of the federal Conrad 30 program, allowing doctors on J-1 visas to stay in the U.S. if they serve in underserved areas for three years. 

“In other words," Senator Taitague said, "Guam is not charting unknown territory. We are playing catch-up.”

She further stressed that the bill does not lower standards, but expands access to qualified doctors. Still, some of her colleagues urged caution — pointing to a separate proposal expected from the governor, in collaboration with the Guam Department of Public Health, the Guam Board of Medical Examiners, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, and the Guam Behavioral and Wellness Center — vetted by the Federation of State Medical Boards. 

But Taitague pushed that the need is too urgent to wait and Bill 206 was moved to the Third Reading File. 

Both bills now head toward final votes slated for the end of the week as lawmakers continue to balance immediate needs with long-term policy impact.