During Thursday's session, lawmakers tackled measures spanning from property rights to environmental enforcement, and voter privacy.

First up, Senator Shelly Calvo introduced Bill 23, the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act. 

It proposes a streamlined process for passing down homes without probate.

“This legislation provides a straightforward and affordable legal tool that allows individuals to pass their real property to a designated beneficiary upon death, all without the need for probate,” said Sen. Calvo. 

Moving on to protecting our environment, senators advanced Sen. Sabina Perez’s Bill 28, which ensures that 20% of Guam's use tax is allocated to the Guam Environmental Protection Agency to bolster enforcement and staffing.

“By having enough staff qualified and sufficient personnel at the agency, we’re able to implement these critical laws that protect our environment and community. By diversifying funding for Guam EPA, especially at this time when federal funding cuts are being implemented or being pondered, it is very critical that the Agency receive local funding,” said Sen. Perez.

Turning to election reform, Bill 53 by Senator Telo Taitague fights to repeal a law requiring the posting of voters’ names and addresses outside of polling sites, which she says is a major risk to residents’ privacy.

“By repealing this outdated requirement we’re safeguarding the personal information of our voters, reducing financial waste, and strengthening public trust in our election system,” said Taitague. 

Taitague’s Bill 55 improves campaign finance transparency by mandating quarterly disclosure of contributions to and the expenses of a campaign.

“More frequent reporting also means early detection of discrepancies or compliance issues, giving the Guam Election Commission an opportunity to provide guidance and intervene before problems escalate,” said Taitague. 

And back on the topic of inheritance, Vice Speaker Tony Ada introduced Bill 80 to raise the threshold for what qualifies as a small estate in Guam's probate system by 50%, reflecting inflation and modern financial realities.

“Increasing the threshold for estates for small value by 50% is not just a financial adjustment: it is a commitment to efficiency, fairness, and accessibility in our probate system,” said Vice Spkr. Ada. 

Finally, Bill 109 by Sen. Jesse Lujan would let the Port Authority of Guam offer lease payment offsets to tenants who invest in public-benefit improvements.

“This is not a rent waiver. It is not a discount. It is a performance-based post lease offset. One that is only earned after the work is completed, verified, and clearly tied to operational benefit or public utility,” said Sen. Lujan. 

Overall, the legislature’s focus was clear: modernize Guam's laws, protect its environment, and support our families, all while prioritizing fiscal responsibility and public trust.