Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed a law on Monday allowing parents, guardians and caregivers of people with disabilities to use express service lines and priority turns without being accompanied by the person in their care. Beneficiaries must show identification or documentation proving they meet the law’s requirements. Law 218-2026, from House Bill 227 by Representative Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló, amends the Uniform Law on Express Service Lines and Assignment of Priority Turns.
It applies whether the caregiver is running personal errands or errands related to the person with a disability. The law expressly includes the Judicial Branch among the entities required to offer express lines, and adds the Office of the Women’s Advocate and the Office of the Citizen’s Advocate as oversight bodies. The Office of the Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities has 30 days from the law’s approval to prepare and publish an informational poster and distribute it digitally; entities must display it and adjust their procedures.
Express lines and priority turns must stay available at all times, regardless of staffing levels or added requirements. González Colón also signed Law 219-2026 (House Bill 998, Rep. Estrella Martínez), declaring substitute care services for older adults and adults with functional diversity essential and prioritizing subsidized payments during emergencies. Law 220-2026 (House Bill 569, Rep. Emilio Carlo) creates a labor transition program for retired state police, attached to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.
She vetoed House Bill 598 over discrepancies between its purpose and content and its unbudgeted fiscal impact on the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department.