Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed five legislative measures covering academic protections for military students, agricultural labor, the definition of political propaganda, cannabis-patient job protections and a Toa Baja community’s access to utilities. She also vetoed Senate Bill 759; the Governor’s mansion (Fortaleza) gave no details on the reasons. Law 201-2026 amends Law 109-2003 to expand protections for military students in postsecondary institutions.
It adds members of the U.S. Space Force and broadens the definition of military activation to cover mobilizations for natural emergencies, humanitarian reasons and public health contingencies. Protections include refund, credit, accommodation and academic priority mechanisms. Law 203-2026 extends the Manos Pa’l Campo law to all agricultural activities instead of only the coffee harvest.
The Agriculture, Labor and Human Resources, and Correction and Rehabilitation departments must coordinate annual estimates of farm-worker demand and availability by municipality. It adds inmates to the available harvest labor and allows temporary foreign workers when local and correctional labor is insufficient. Law 202-2026 adds a definition of political propaganda to the 2020 Electoral Code, covering signs, stickers, audio, images and electronic screens displayed in public places to influence elections.
The State Elections Commission must issue implementing regulations. Law 204-2026 amends Law 42-2017 so anti-discrimination job protections for medical cannabis patients do not apply to sensitive transport roles, such as truck, heavy-vehicle, school-bus and taxi drivers and ride-platform drivers, when the employer proves it by a preponderance of evidence. Joint Resolution 64-2026 orders LUMA Energy, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) and the Transportation and Public Works Department (DTOP) to begin, within 30 days, steps to legally connect Villas del Sol in Toa Baja to electricity, water and sewer service and address road deficiencies.
They must report to the Legislature within 60 days. The community has 176 families and was formed as a self-build housing cooperative after relocating in 2010.