The Puerto Rico Senate postponed the final vote on a comprehensive permit reform bill, giving lawmakers until next week to review and analyze the over 1,000-page project. The bill proposes a complete reorganization of Puerto Rico’s permit system, including new entities, digital platforms, environmental criteria, and professional certification structures. Senators Josean Santiago and Eliezer Molina expressed concerns about the rapid legislative process and potential consequences of approving such a complex measure without adequate review.
Santiago argued that the Senate’s responsibility to the people outweighs any desire to project legislative efficiency, while Molina highlighted concerns about coastal protections, geological risks, and the maritime-terrestrial zone. The Senate president, Thomas Rivera Schatz, defended the legislative process but agreed to postpone the vote until the following Tuesday. The reform aims to consolidate dozens of laws, reorganize permit entities, integrate digital geospatial systems, redefine environmental evaluation processes, and establish new mechanisms for citizen complaints and public participation.