Puerto Rico House of Representatives Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez unveiled two measures on Thursday to overhaul the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture and create a new legal framework aimed at modernizing the island’s agricultural sector, reducing bureaucracy and encouraging investment. The package includes a new charter law for the agency, replacing a 2010 reorganization plan, and an Agricultural Modernization Code that would consolidate and update industry laws.
Méndez called it the most significant transformation of the agency since its creation in December 1917, saying its bureaucratic structure has largely remained the same despite amendments. The reforms seek efficiency, accountability and effective use of public resources, and would preserve high-value farmland through agricultural reserves and conservation easements. Agriculture Secretary Irving Rodríguez Torres and Rep. Joe “Joito” Colón Rodríguez, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, support the initiative; Colón called it the largest change in the department in 100 years and said it would promote early agricultural education and strengthen 4-H Clubs and Future Farmers of America.
The package would restore a tax credit equal to 50% of eligible agricultural investments, capped at $350,000 annually per exempt business, and allocate $12 million a year in tax credits for new agricultural investment. Through “Farm to School,” it sets a goal of 30% of the Education Department’s food purchases coming from local producers by 2030.
It proposes phased increases to the farmworker minimum wage, rest-period rights, and a wage subsidy equal to 50% of the federal minimum wage per hour for eligible bona fide farmers. Department of Labor and Human Resources 2025 data show the sector directly employs about 13,000 people and supports more than 30,000 indirect jobs.