Following the legislative session on Friday, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero received a total of nine bills. Of the nine, eight were passed and one was vetoed.

The vetoed bill, Bill 227-37, aimed to enhance the independence of the Office of Public Accountability by guaranteeing it a continuing annual budget of not less than one-quarter (0.25) of one percent of the government's annual budget.

Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz provided favorable testimony, stating the measure would guarantee the OPA’s ability to perform its statutory duties objectively without interference with their budget.

Leon Guerrero said the bill is inconsistent with “sound fiscal policy” and added, “Additional unanticipated obligations and liabilities may arise that further impact the availability of funds.”

She also passed eight other bills and they are as follows:

Bill No. 109-37 (LS) nka P.L. 37-96 - AN ACT TO ADD NEW SUBSECTIONS (3) AND (4) TO § 4124(b) OF CHAPTER 4, TITLE 17, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO PROVIDING PARITY BY CREATING AN EXEMPTION FROM COMPLETING THE FULL SEVENTY-FIVE (75) HOURS OF SERVICE LEARNING REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024, AND INSTEAD REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF THIRTY-FIVE (35) HOURS OF SERVICE LEARNING; AND TO REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF FIFTY-FIVE (55) HOURS OF SERVICE LEARNING FOR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SCHOOL YEAR 2024-2025.

Bill No. 153-37 (LS) nka P.L. 37-97 - AN ACT TO ADD A NEW SUBSECTION (f) TO § 80.37 OF ARTICLE 2, CHAPTER 80, TITLE 9, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO POSSESSION OR USE OF AN EXPLOSIVE OR AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE IN THE COMMISSION OF A FELONY.

Bill No. 183-37 (COR) nka P.L. 37-98 - AN ACT TO AMEND §§ 25.15(b) AND 25.20(b) OF CHAPTER 25, TITLE 9, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO ENACTING HIGHER MINIMUM SENTENCING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT INVOLVING VICTIMS UNDER TWELVE (12) YEARS OF AGE.

Bill No. 240-37 (COR) nka P.L. 37-100 - AN ACT TO AMEND § 34111(b) AND ADD NEW §§ 34156, 34157, AND 34158 OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 34, TITLE 5, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO EFFECTIVELY DISTRIBUTING AND DISPOSING OF UNDISTRIBUTED CHILD SUPPORT FUNDS AT THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF GUAM.

Bill No. 268-37 (COR) nka 37-101 - AN ACT TO ADD NEW §§ 67111, 67112, AND 67113 TO ARTICLE 1 OF CHAPTER 67, TITLE 10, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GUAM OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

Bill No. 285-37 (LS) nka P.L. 37-102 - AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) FROM FISCAL YEAR 2024 GENERAL FUND REVENUES COLLECTED IN EXCESS OF THE ADOPTED LEVELS ENUMERATED IN PUBLIC LAW 37-42, AS AMENDED, TO THE GUAM OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RELATIVE TO INCREASING SERVICES AND OPERATIONS.

Bill No. 274-37 (COR) nka P.L. 37-103 - AN ACT TO ADD NEW §§ 1424 AND 14243 TO ARTICLE 2 OF CHAPTER 14, TITLE 12, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO CREATING A COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM FOR THE GUAM WATERWORKS AUTHORITY, APPROVING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE ISSUANCE OF GUAM WATERWORKS AUTHORITY REVENUE BONDS, AND AUTHORIZING GUAM WATERWORKS AUTHORITY TO OBTAIN LOANS FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGH THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AND INNOVATION ACT OF 2014 (WIFIA) PROGRAM, AND RELATED MATTERS.

Bill No. 277-37 (LS) nka P.L. 37-104 - AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE THIRTY-ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS ($31,656,000) FROM FISCAL YEAR 2024 GENERAL FUND REVENUES COLLECTED IN EXCESS OF THE ADOPTED LEVELS ENUMERATED IN PUBLIC LAW 37-42, AS AMENDED, TO THE GUAM POWER AUTHORITY FOR A SIX (6)-MONTH EXTENSION TO THE PRUGRAMAN AYUDA PARA I TAOTAO-TA ENERGY CREDIT PROGRAM, RELATIVE TO PROVIDING CUSTOMERS WITH SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS ($600) CREDIT TOWARDS THEIR ACCOUNT.