[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6540015,"mediaKeyId","3516048-37855a04d76469bd087aee078a248611","parentId",3516048,"title","Senate advances Hearing Protection Act to legalize firearm suppressors with rules, prompting safety and policing concerns","audioSeconds",3575,"startMs",3471000,"endMs",7046000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516048-37855a04d76469bd087aee078a248611&start=3471&end=7046","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516048-37855a04d76469bd087aee078a248611/thumbnail_3471000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6540015/Senate-advances-Hearing-Protection-Act-to-legalize-firearm-suppressors-with-rules-prompting-safety-and-policing-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540015-35e1e998b65da2455c88ee5324c44cf4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770710586&Signature=aJPp9ILVA-qbuL457zuhlp~ZIB0W8Zt-DuHYsteRZ8K8BWMkagxBKmt8btV1gRibjVlE0fii0rmKbd1z-cDhDeWtES4f5LmffWgVLZsOUfhnN~hYvyUnhhuUUloovusNsSLYdYnzsGTgMByJUrfYB75O8ZVeZtteh4uDEUzb4rI2wJg7P7-UZotNaYfYLvJaSKHSOnM6r3GW1LEz8gihMb6e9qaPC7xq6ntthDiHYcxxz2jXd5Z4pP6P1ZC2d1zBtn401u4G6QVzCrPoejBoyNJr-sgzRmXoJbR0q0gPPGMjOVRgqcLCYglLyj0VaD5QWvfjRay7b2jMUpdDdYa7Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Guam Legislature","date","2025-05-27T06:13:27Z","article","The Guam Legislature on the floor moved the Hearing Protection Act of 2025 (Bill 27‑38) to third reading after a lengthy debate that balanced hearing‑safety arguments with public‑safety and law‑enforcement concerns.

Senator Parkinson (bill sponsor) said the measure would legalize firearm suppressors (commonly but imprecisely called “silencers”) on Guam to reduce the risk of noise‑induced hearing loss during training and to help survivors of domestic violence train safely. He cited federal public‑health guidance, telling colleagues that “suppressors cut gunshot noise by 20 to 35 decibels” and referenced CDC and NIOSH recommendations endorsing noise suppression where legally permissible.

The bill, as amended in committee and reported on the floor by Senator Fontelofo, adopts the ATF definition of a firearm silencer, requires that ownership, purchase and transfers comply with federal and local law, and directs the Guam Police Department (GPD) to begin rulemaking to implement the measure. The committee added specific implementation details: GPD must include a notation on firearm identification cards that the holder is authorized to own or possess a suppressor; transfers and sales must follow ATF procedures (including Form 4 transfers); and the statute sets minimum age thresholds cited in committee markup — at least 21 to purchase from a dealer and at least 18 for certain trust/corporate/Form‑4 transfers — reflecting federal standards discussed on the floor.

Supporters argued suppressors are proven hearing‑protection tools and would enable safer, more frequent training. Senator Parkinson said the devices “reduce damaging noise” and stressed training and repetition are essential to firearm safety.

Opponents — including speakers who identified judiciary and police concerns during testimony — warned that suppressors could impede rapid identification of active‑shooter incidents and delay law‑enforcement response because a suppressed gunshot may not be immediately recognized as gunfire. A floor speaker summarizing judiciary testimony said the use of suppressors “could hinder the rapid identification of threats” and pointed to high‑profile cases where shooters used suppressors or subterfuge that reduced initial recognition of gunfire.

Senators also debated practical implementation. One senator pointed out the bill’s section requiring GPD to “begin the process of developing rules and regs” within 30 calendar days; opponents noted that rulemaking requires public notice and cannot realistically be completed in 30 days, and that the bill appears to make suppressors lawful upon enactment even if rules are not yet finalized.

After debate and sponsor remarks, senators voted to move Bill 27‑38 as amended to third reading. The floor also recorded additions of several cosponsors. The bill as drafted requires compliance with applicable federal requirements (ATF) and tasks GPD with rulemaking and fee development to recover administrative costs.

Ending: Bill 27‑38 will proceed to third reading; if enacted, it would legalize ownership and regulated transfers of firearm suppressors under the terms described in the amended measure and require GPD to promulgate implementing rules and fee schedules.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","38th Guam Legislature Regular Session - May 27, 2025 PM PT.2","oneSentenceSummary","Senators moved Bill 27‑38, the Hearing Protection Act of 2025, to third reading after committee markup added ATF‑aligned definitions, GPD rulemaking and fee language; supporters argued suppressors reduce hearing damage, while opponents and judiciary cited public‑safety and law enforcement response concerns.","taxTitle","General Government Operations and Appropriations\t, Legislative, Guam","taxId",18139,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6540020,"Legislature advances bill to seek public‑private partnership for Guam Memorial Hospital Authority",3262,202000,3464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516048-37855a04d76469bd087aee078a248611&start=202&end=3464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516048-37855a04d76469bd087aee078a248611/thumbnail_202000.jpg","/articles/6540020/Legislature-advances-bill-to-seek-publicprivate-partnership-for-Guam-Memorial-Hospital-Authority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6540020-44f6e206887119bdf97283beb735da59/orig.mp4?Expires=1770710586&Signature=HB~S9Rl3FT01Ou6T4I8RkHIhbVSCp51eQ3ksbB4m56GqVsJA9Q9dSllAMxxBslR7AjTmQTdZcuzWxEE1ZM3YIdOKRlNEeaXxAY303XmbH6LeJFOVwyC2nrwTDJTqo0D3tNJhWWRUyxa773o3HskDqQ2AAfCsYwUzPvg-eBRusAOx1au0OIg~5CYk426I2VTkj3lrQSAqEoU-~KuC~vfuw8MmoTIQ8T8n0f7atL8kyh6W0bI-o0nHsgneSjvPXfu-pp8d45aYK26rLzDm7amCPsvgU45Ct3why-ri~eT7cD4iGxlZu83dbdWxzLingqj3oo0Om-~mejJwOtP51T8iEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Guam Legislature on the floor advanced legislation directing a public‑private partnership (P3) process to address long‑running financial and operational problems at the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA), adopting several amendments and moving the measure to third reading.

Senators debated language that would shape an RFP process and the scope of any private management contract. Senator Duanez, who proffered an amendment, said the bill requires GMHA to “enter into a contract based on public private partnership with a private entity for purposes of improving the operational efficiency and healthcare provision of the hospital.” He told colleagues the P3 committee’s RFP “shall delineate a comprehensive scope of services expected from the private partner.”

The bill’s central change would authorize a P3 committee — and direct GEDA and other stakeholders to develop an RFP (the transcript and members repeatedly referenced GEDA’s earlier RFP 24‑006) — to evaluate management options, programmatic and fiscal challenges, accreditation requirements and possible revenue streams. Supporters told colleagues the P3 approach is intended to bring outside management expertise and operational reforms that the public hospital has not achieved under the status quo.

Senators adopted several floor corrections and amendments. Senator Duanez successfully moved to strike a provision that would have required the contract to “include a provision for safeguarding the employment of all current classified non‑management staff members at GMHA” and to guarantee their classified status and retirement benefits as a contract term. Duanez argued that making that a contractor duty would prevent potential private partners from managing personnel to achieve operational efficiencies; the body carried the amendment by unanimous consent (no objections). The bill retains language requiring the Department of Administration (DOA) to assist the P3 committee with transfers or other merit protections for classified employees.

Other amendments adopted on the floor included a technical correction changing the listed representative from the “Guam Nursing Association” (from the word “nursing” to “nurses”) and an amendment to add information‑technology provisions. The IT amendment added “upgrades to information technology infrastructure to support patient care and administrative functions while strengthening cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data, ensure compliance, and mitigate potential threats.” Several senators spoke in favor of the cybersecurity insertion, citing past GMH IT incidents and revenue impacts.

Supporters on the floor framed the bill as a response to decades of operational shortfalls, citing equipment failures, deferred maintenance and difficulties recruiting and retaining staff. Senator July, speaking for the bill, said the legislature had substantially increased appropriations to GMHA over recent years and that “we need administrators who are hired based on their qualifications” to stabilize care. Multiple senators emphasized the legislature will have an opportunity to review any proposed RFP and financing before a formal solicitation proceeds.

Opponents raised implementation questions during debate about how P3 terms would preserve mandated services and protect employees; those concerns were addressed in part by amendments that (1) removed the contractor employment‑safeguard language while (2) retaining DOA’s role in protecting classified employees’ rights and (3) preserving legislative review of the RFP and proposed financing structure.

On the floor, senators repeatedly described the bill as a framework to allow outside management expertise to propose operational changes and financing arrangements for GMHA and a contemplated new hospital. Senator July moved the bill to third reading as amended; the motion carried by unanimous consent and the bill was placed on third reading.

Ending: The bill as amended now goes to third reading. If enacted, the legislation would not itself privatize GMHA but would authorize a stakeholder P3 committee to draft an RFP and propose contract terms and financing for a private partner to manage aspects of GMHA operations; the legislature retains review authority over the RFP and any proposed financing before solicitation.

","The Guam Legislature amended and moved forward Bill 13‑38 COR to authorize a P3 process for the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, dropping a contractor employment‑safeguard clause and adding cybersecurity and technical corrections; the measure was placed on third reading.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate advances Hearing Protection Act to legalize firearm suppressors with rules, prompting safety and policing concerns

Legislature advances bill to seek public‑private partnership for Guam Memorial Hospital Authority