Puerto Rico’s Senate approved, with amendments, a substitute bill to establish a new Planning and Permits Code meant to simplify administrative procedures, set defined deadlines for certain filings and strengthen oversight and compliance. The measure replaces Senate Bills 1173 and 1183 and was evaluated by the Committee on Innovation, Reform and Appointments, chaired by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz.
The committee held five public hearings between April and May 2026, received about 160 explanatory memorials and examined nearly 50 laws tied to the permit system. Participants included the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Planning Board, the Permits Management Office, the Justice, Health and Housing departments, municipal representatives, and environmental and community groups.
Rivera Schatz said the code replaces more than 46 legal and administrative instruments and more than 50 scattered laws. Key provisions include a use declaration procedure: a person could file through the Unified Information System, pay the fee and begin operating the same day, with later risk-based inspections. Fines of up to $100,000 are set for false information.
The bill also creates a single digital file per project, controls for authorized professionals, licensees and inspectors (a public registry, code of ethics, performance evaluations and sanctions), risk-based audits, and cease and stop-work orders. It also consolidates rules on the maritime-terrestrial zone. Independent Sen. Eliezer Molina Pérez backed the bill’s protection of free public access to maritime-terrestrial public domain assets.
Majority spokesman Gregorio Matías Rosario questioned the lack of support from the Popular Democratic Party delegation. Sens. Juan Oscar Morales Rodríguez, Nitza Morán Trinidad, Ángel Toledo López and Roxanna Soto Aguilú also spoke in support.