19th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico

Session of the Puerto Rico Legislature April 2025 19th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico File:Senate of Puerto Rico parliament.jpg 200px Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico 8 November 2020Senate House Pierluisi government 2021 01 02 2025 01 01 18th 20th 27th Senate 27 President José Luis Dalmau President pro tem Marially González Huertas Majority Leader Javier Aponte Dalmau Majority Whip Gretchen Marie Hau Irizarry Minority Leaders Thomas Rivera Schatz (PNP), Ana Irma Rivera Lassén (MVC), M.ª de Lourdes Santiago Negrón (PIP), Joanne Rodríguez Veve (PD), José "Chaco" Vargas Vidot (Ind.) Minority Whips Carmelo Ríos Santiago (PNP),Rafael Bernabe Riefkohl (MVC) 29th House of Representatives 51 Speaker Tatito Hernández Montañez Speaker pro tem Conny Varela Majority Leader Angel Matos García Majority Whip Roberto Rivera Ruiz de Porras Minority Leaders Carlos Johnny Méndez (PNP), Mariana Nogales Molinelli (MVC), Denis Márquez Lebrón (PIP), Lisie Burgos Muñiz (PD) Minority Whips Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló (PNP), José Bernardo Márquez Reyes (MVC) January 11, 2021https://bvirtualogp.pr.gov/ogp/Bvirtual/leyesreferencia/PDF/Asamblea/9-1954.pdf Ley para Fijar la Duración de las Sesiones Ordinarias y los Plazos para la Radicación y la Consideración de Proyectos, Resoluciones Conjuntas y Resoluciones Concurrentes Spanish 2 March 1997 4 May 2022 June 30, 2021 August 16, 2021 November 16, 2021 January 10, 2022 June 30, 2022 August 15, 2022 November 15, 2022 January 9, 2023 June 30, 2023 August 21, 2023 November 14, 2023 January 8, 2024 June 30, 2024 August 19, 2024* November 19, 2024* The 19th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico met from January 2, 2021, to January 1, 2025. Members of the 31st House of Representatives of Puerto Rico were elected in the 2020 House of Representatives election, while members of the 27th Senate of Puerto Rico were elected the same day in the Senate election. The Popular Democratic Party (PPD in Spanish) does not have an outright majority in the Senate, but controls the chamber. While the PPD had a simple majority of representatives in the 31st House of Representatives from 2021 to 2022, this has ceased to be the case since 4 May 2022. Major legislation The following is a non-extensive list of legislation with far-reaching impact in Puerto Rican society approved by the 19th Legislative Assembly. For an extensive list of all legislation approved in this legislature see List of acts of the 19th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. Enacted Law 10 of 2022: Special Law for the Minimum Salary of Teachers in the Public Education System.Ley Especial de Salario Base para el Magisterio del Sistema de Educacion Publico https://sutra.oslpr.org/osl/SUTRA/anejos/137762/10.pdf Sistema Único de Trámite Legislativo Oficina de Servicios Legislativos 10 May 2022 Spanish Increased the minimum salary for teachers to $2,750 monthly. Law 47 of 2021: Puerto Rico Minimum Wage Act.Puerto Rico Minimum Wage Act https://sutra.oslpr.org/osl/SUTRA/anejos/137113/A-47-2021%20Minimum%20Wage.pdf Sistema Único de Trámite Legislativo Oficina de Servicios Legislativos 10 May 2022 English The law increased the minimum wage from 7.25 to $10.50 per hour (or higher) by 1 July 2024; allows Puerto Rico’s minimum wage to prevail over the federal minimum wage if Puerto Rico's is higher; created the Minimum Wage Review Commission within the Department of Labor and Human Resources which will review and increase the minimum wage yearly via decrees; and provided employees of local businesses not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 with protections. Law 7 of 2021: Dignified Retirement Act.Dignified Retirement Act Act https://sutra.oslpr.org/osl/SUTRA/anejos/136895/A-7-2021%20Dignified%20Retirement.pdf Sistema Único de Trámite Legislativo Oficina de Servicios Legislativos 10 May 2022 English Declares a state of emergency for the government of Puerto Rico and its pension systems, proposes a model to manage creditors' classes under a Plan of Adjustment of Puerto Rico's public debts, setting a goal for zero pension cuts, as well as rejecting prima facie any Plan of Adjustment or Restructuring Support Agreement proposed by the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico that requires the cutting of essential public services by the central government and public corporations or the municipalities. Proposed Senate Bill 693: Law for the Protection of the Conceived in its Gestational Stage of Viability.PS0693 https://sutra.oslpr.org/osl/esutra/MedidaReg.aspx?rid=140312 Sistema Único de Trámite Legislativo Oficina de Servicios Legislativos 10 May 2022 Spanish Would remove or restrict medical exemptions from the abortion section of the Puerto Rico penal code as recognized in Pueblo de Puerto Rico v. Pablo Duarte Mendoza (1980). The Senate approved it on 21 June 2022, by a vote of 16 for, 9 against, one abstained and one absent. It has been referred to the House of Representatives, and awaits consideration. House Bill 1037: To amend Section 404 (a) of the Puerto Rico Controlled Substances Act, Act No. 4 of 23 June 1971, as amended, for the purpose of decriminalizing the simple possession of fourteen (14) grams or less of marijuana.PC1037 https://sutra.oslpr.org/osl/esutra/medidareg.aspx?rid=139952 Sistema Único de Trámite Legislativo Oficina de Servicios Legislativos 3 November 2022 Spanish Would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Puerto Rico currently allows medical marijuana use and sales, but not recreational marijuana use. Failed to pass in the House of Representatives on 1 November 2022, by a vote of 19 for, 26 against, 2 abstained, 3 absent. Leadership Senate Office SenatorSenators of the 19th Legislative Assembly https://senado.pr.gov/index.cfm?module=senadores Senado de Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Senate 8 May 2022 Spanish Party District President José Luis Dalmau Santiago PPD District VII Vice President Marially González Huertas PPD District V Majority LeaderJavier Antonio Aponte Dalmau PPD District VIIIMinority Leaders Thomas Rivera Schatz PNP At-large María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón PIP At-large Ana Irma Rivera Lassén MVC At-large Joanne Rodríguez Veve PD At-large House of Representatives Office Representative Party District Speaker of the House Tatito Hernández Montañez PPD District 11 Speaker Pro TemConny Varela PPD District 32 Majority LeaderAngel Matos García PPD District 40Minority LeadersJohnny Méndez PNP District 36 Mariana Nogales Molinelli MVC At-large Denis Márquez Lebrón PIP At-largeLisie Burgos Muñiz PD At-large Party summary Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Changes in membership" section below. Senate Affiliation Party(shading indicates control of presidency and leadership of the chamber) Total Vacant Popular Democratic Citizen Victory Independence Independent Project Dignity New Progressive End of previous Legislature 7 0 1 1 021 30 0 Begin (2 January 2021) 12 2 1 1 1 10 27 0 30 June 2022 9 26 1 11 September 2022 10 27 0 Latest voting share 12 27 1 yes 2 27 1 yes 1 27 1 yes 1 27 1 yes 1 27 1 yes 10 27 1 yes   House of Representatives {| width=300px align=right |- | |} Affiliation Party(shading indicates control of presidency and leadership of the chamber) Total Vacant Popular Democratic Citizen Victory Independence Independent Project Dignity New Progressive End of previous Legislature 16 1 1 0 034 51 0 Begin (2 January 2022) 26 2 1 0 1 21 51 0 11 January 2021"PNP-AtLarge" In At-Large seat: Néstor A. Alonso Vega (PNP) resigned on 11 January 2021 as he was charged with corruption. His successor, José Pérez Cordero was elected on 21 March 2021. 20 50 1 21 March 2021"PNP-AtLarge" In At-Large seat: Néstor A. Alonso Vega (PNP) resigned on 11 January 2021 as he was charged with corruption. His successor, José Pérez Cordero was elected on 21 March 2021. 21510 4 May 2022"PPD-2" In District 2: Luis Raúl Torres Cruz (PPD) broke from the party caucus and declared himself independent on 4 May 2022.25 1 11 September 2022 "PNP-3" In San Juan District 3 seat: Juan Oscar Morales Rodríguez (PNP) became Senator, leaving a vacancy that was filled in a special election in December. 20 50 1 6 December "PNP-3" In San Juan District 3 seat: Juan Oscar Morales Rodríguez (PNP) became Senator, leaving a vacancy that was filled in a special election in December. 21510 Latest voting share 25 51 1 yes 2 51 1 yes 1 51 1 yes 1 51 1 yes 1 51 1 yes 21 51 1 yes   Changes in membership Senate District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date of successor'sinstallation I - San Juan Henry Neumann Resigned, effective on 30 June 2022El senador Henry Neumann renuncia a su puesto https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/legislatura/notas/el-senador-henry-neumann-renuncia-a-su-puesto/ 12 September 2022 El Nuevo Día 21 June 2022 es A special election was held on 11 September 2022CEE Event: Special Election for District I senator https://senadordistrito1.ceepur.org/Noche_del_Evento_110/index.html#en/default/SENADORES_POR_DISTRITO_Resumen.xml senadordistrito1.ceepur.org 12 September 2022 Juan Oscar Morales Rodríguez 11 September 2022 House of Representatives District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date of successor'sinstallation 2 Luis Raúl Torres Changed party, 4 May 2022Rico Sofía Representante Luis Raúl Torres se desafilia del PPD https://www.noticel.com/legislatura/ahora/ppd/politica/20220504/representante-luis-raul-torres-se-desafilia-del-ppd/ 5 May 2022 Noticel 4 May 2022 Luis Raúl Torres 4 May 2022 3 Juan Oscar Morales Rodríguez Became senator, vacating House seat,Juan Oscar Morales es el ganador de la elección especial por silla en el Senado https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2022/09/11/juan-oscar-morales-se-perfila-como-el-ganador-de-eleccion-especial-por-silla-en-el-senado/ Metro Puerto Rico 20 January 2023 es Vacancy filled in special election in December.CEE Event https://representantedistrito3.ceepur.org/Escrutinio_General_113/index.html#es/default/REPRESENTANTES_POR_DISTRITO_Resumen.xml representantedistrito3.ceepur.org José Hernández Concepción.Certificación para el cargo de representante https://www.ceepur.org/RepresentanteDistrito3/docs/certificacion-resultados-finales.pdf www.ceepur.org Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico 19 January 2023 es-pr 6 December 2022 6 December 2022 At-large Néstor A. Alonso Vega Resigned upon being charged on 11 January 2021.Néstor Alonso renuncia a su escaño en la Cámara de Representantes https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/legislatura/notas/nestor-alonso-renuncia-a-su-escano-en-la-camara-de-representantes/ El Nuevo Día 11 January 2021 8 May 2022 A special election was held on 21 March 2021.Special Election to cover the vacancy of the At-Large Representative https://eleccionespecial2021.ceepur.org/NOCHE_DEL_EVENTO_94/index.html#en/pic_bar_list/REPRESENTANTES_POR_ACUMULACION_Resumen.xml State Election Commission State Election Commission José «Che» Pérez Cordero.Lista la CEE para la elección especial del PNP https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/politica/notas/jose-che-perez-asegura-que-regresa-renovado-a-la-legislatura// El Nuevo Día 22 February 2021 8 May 2022 21 March 2021 See also Puerto Rico Politics List of Legislative Assemblies of Puerto Rico Notes References External links Puerto Rico State Elections Commission es Puerto Rico Senate https://web.archive.org/web/20220204225209/https://senado.pr.gov/ February 4, 2022 es Puerto Rico House of RepresentativesAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot es Puerto Rico, 19th Legislative Assembly 19