[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6503710,"mediaKeyId","5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1","parentId",5485144,"title","Foster Care Bill of Rights advanced to third reading after broad bipartisan floor debate","audioSeconds",225,"startMs",4531000,"endMs",4756000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1&start=4531&end=4756","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1/thumbnail_4531000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6503710/Foster-Care-Bill-of-Rights-advanced-to-third-reading-after-broad-bipartisan-floor-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503710-a1bef37c36bcfd800d29437ed24d5356/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931327&Signature=c4cpYrc0yqbmelkcIB-utLZCT5JDdTbcOOffg5R7iIK~U1gF1gfk70G8XOwdjq6-cP70W~X96XtpGTbqURgjWJm99xBPSgBTmzJR8q5NR7dP-8SGUJx~ezmonL02ajGrROJvV3SUaWuXs5NE7pCCx0xF2OoCpH6Daq-AYHsu9zZF~RvwPksgH-nMIFfo08GGX3-VqaOtuZgU-vpDX953qqfKtB0X3MwYTV4F-Ax97xh2KULxKmRYrNp9zLSTRgv0sX~p53DTdpZENhhDJpPsRCIU8FOHbYlQutoiU76iiMC23M~npdMHf2IvkSpfDgEo20puH8C0ETSChF7A2VbvXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Guam Legislature","date","2025-07-28T01:31:22.73Z","article","Senators on Thursday moved Bill 139-38 COR, the Foster Care Bill of Rights Act of 2025, into the third-reading file after extensive floor discussion and multiple cosponsor endorsements.

The bill, sponsored and presented by Senator Shelley V. Calvo, would add new sections to Article 3, Chapter 13, Title 19 of the Guam Code Annotated to codify enforceable rights for children in foster care and for foster parents. The sponsor said the measure enshrines protections including access to health and education services, notice of hearings, access to records for caregivers, privacy protections and anti-discrimination guarantees. Senator Calvo said the codification would also help Guam pursue additional grants and supports for foster youth.

Floor supporters cited testimony from national advocates and local officials. The transcript records references to attorney Carol Hinkle Sanchez, the attorney general of Guam Douglas Moylan, and input from the Department of Public Health and Social Services and other national organizations; the sponsor said stakeholders’ input informed the bill and that family court remedies would be available to adjudicate grievances under the new rights.

During debate some senators raised two specific concerns recorded in the DPHSS written testimony: one asking that a section granting foster children the right to make and receive confidential telephone calls and unopened mail be struck because communications are monitored and reviewed in case-specific circumstances, and another asking that a provision giving foster children the right to be disciplined “in a manner appropriate to the child's level of maturity” be clarified because it could be vague. Senator Calvo responded on the floor that she is open to tightening language and amendments, and that the committee incorporated many stakeholder recommendations during markup.

Supporters stressed the scale of the local foster system cited on the floor: references included 697 foster children, 96 licensed foster parents and 216 placements with relatives. Several senators urged that codifying rights will improve stability and encourage recruitment of foster families. The motion to place the bill into the third-reading file was made by the sponsor and debate followed; the transcript shows the bill advanced to third reading for further consideration and scheduling of final action.

Next steps: the bill will be scheduled from the third-reading file for a recorded final vote; sponsors indicated willingness to accept clarifying amendments before final passage.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","38th Guam Legislature Regular Session - July 28, 2025 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Guam Legislature placed Bill 139-38 COR, the Foster Care Bill of Rights Act of 2025, into the third-reading file after sponsors and several senators outlined the legislation's protections for foster children and foster parents.","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},6503715,"Legislature advances election-law rewrite to voting file; supporters call it fairness and clarity",395,3079000,3474000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1&start=3079&end=3474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1/thumbnail_3079000.jpg","/articles/6503715/Legislature-advances-election-law-rewrite-to-voting-file-supporters-call-it-fairness-and-clarity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503715-6edde78aa7f0159bc995a26c7b0c1773/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931327&Signature=HHcABsmfRKHABvFlR2vJPldyoPmk59sFmnaXpD2c1-3FvojerODRCQgrErJJ-JV88jc4HHNrn-33E9q7i-pgFUwpBJ0V5TLZ54JJm6XX7miR83sBGcWB5q1Key-Ex5AWw~70fyI0Oo~-gX8JEI6moFiBtJRRkVHpuKxkikAfOtOeyQ0VvrNV1kT4M4Wcz2MXnFjvwa7odf2vvGxsc41QQ6fjvOAtrJm-n4fhddmgry0IQtv91pGlPB~vdL9FyXFUnB44ZTWAKwWfyXM6iWsLVf7xPirEh7MN~w4wsxsJeolHyTBGc1GPY7jnJ9zbZ4OQvJZ8LeVpL2sYgMMiepPZXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators voted to place vetoed Bill 54-38 COR into the voting file for the purpose of considering an override of the governor’s veto. The bill was described by its sponsor as an update to Guam’s election laws that clarifies registration procedures, ballot handling and early-voting timelines.

The sponsor said the bill was developed with input from the Guam Election Commission and aims to ensure “every eligible voter in Guam has clear, consistent, and fair access to our electoral system.” Supporters argued the legislation standardizes definitions, clarifies provisional-ballot handling and addresses staffing and timeline needs to improve administration ahead of future elections.

On the floor, one senator noted the governor objected only to a single provision and that the bill retains current registration availability at central offices up to 10 days before an election. Another senator framed the vote as a question of public trust in election administration and urged colleagues to override the veto.

The motion to place Bill 54-38 COR into the voting file carried with no objections recorded in the excerpt. The matter now sits in the voting file so the legislature may schedule a recorded override vote.","The Guam Legislature placed vetoed Bill 54-38 COR — a package of election-law updates covering registration procedures, ballot handling and early voting — into the voting file for consideration of an override of the governor's veto.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6503720,"Legislature advances bill to tax vehicle transfers by notarized bill of sale, supporters say it will ease abandoned-vehicle problem",83,2363000,2446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1&start=2363&end=2446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1/thumbnail_2363000.jpg","/articles/6503720/Legislature-advances-bill-to-tax-vehicle-transfers-by-notarized-bill-of-sale-supporters-say-it-will-ease-abandoned-vehicle-problem","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503720-43623f79824f129b7cca8f271c7a218a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931327&Signature=CQyKe2eLj4k559S0DFUtXHQftUkI32~f8Zp7NKyn9k~Q2lFvQ78Tuad1el3wz70R7y9Fk7uGpGnNYtvVoPxJaWamIwrOE-3gLEwjEfp~8xwKRhO4wG7GXw4v8hBSNU-EOnuMe3kfpjXWLYHIEe21cEAB6W0~-NxkzeuhpwPvDCDEAGmZJOJHOQhNaS8CvPaSE5pPotenoAiRBndmGRYjkYPnC8BTZtD9SleYhthAwMIPXcCEuRuYQduKpqgmuuoqyr2qGt1yASKDnHJXx1dbQBTbYN61Xq2bYPpnrThps0GnpAcI0vOms42LDDv-49pifSI5yEee--5NNxa5uJ2WKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Legislature voted to place vetoed Bill 88-38 COR into the third-reading file for consideration of an override of the governor’s veto. The bill would repeal the current vehicle-transfer tax valuation method that uses Kelley Blue Book values and instead base taxes on the notarized bill of sale.

The bill's sponsor described repeated accounts of residents abandoning title transfers because the tax assessed using Kelley Blue Book values exceeded the actual sale price of used or deteriorated vehicles. The sponsor said the bill would “reduce financial burdens, encourage proper title transfer, and directly tackles Guam's worsening problem of abandoned vehicles.” The measure retains verification steps and authorizes administrative audits and random compliance checks, the sponsor said.

Opponents on the floor raised concerns about potential abuse of an honor-system approach. One senator warned that a seller could report a deeply reduced sale price to avoid taxes — for example, selling a $20,000 vehicle for $1 and paying tax only on $1 — and called that scenario a potential “can of worms” for abuse of the tax system.

After discussion, the motion to place Bill 88-38 COR into the third-reading file carried by voice/hand vote according to the transcript. The bill will proceed to the legislature’s third-reading file for a future override vote, where recorded action would be required to overturn the governor’s veto.

Next steps: scheduling of a recorded override vote from the third-reading file.","Senators moved vetoed Bill 88-38 COR into the third-reading file to consider overriding a gubernatorial veto. The bill would change vehicle-transfer taxation from Kelley Blue Book valuations to taxation based on a notarized bill of sale; supporters said it reduces burdens that lead to abandoned vehicles while opponents warned of potential fraud.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6503724,"Legislature moves suppressor bill to third reading after debate over public safety and hearing loss",190,1101000,1291000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1&start=1101&end=1291","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5485144-905b32a6cdb9780b8a70114518f325e1/thumbnail_1101000.jpg","/articles/6503724/Legislature-moves-suppressor-bill-to-third-reading-after-debate-over-public-safety-and-hearing-loss","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503724-a7b8c2d7abe08fe5e33aeb8b4445978c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931327&Signature=dtBzh1vEXtWgLsO1o-1DWiIX7AH~9rQzZqkZkOIennY8bCsiMBBilQX34hvmoZagnKgIaxILVIx6sdWT5csltWhhzzG3eVUE~WdYDpZ0y4qNsGwTmEt~C7ObihFPH4i4YkBSYMM2RulCq1ax8kRsASJ5cP6moIeq5MUEQsoqOQxuNGtci0rlX3hModhkNZ-AJ2sjT9MYL1qj6cmUsZ67dX1kZHIrJmCiPVqh~l97EctfXcPX9Unj~qHWPW8ATiSO0fmMaD~OJyLN7f-pC~XsRm1uSnLC69V128AMaP7z6J0kMQVodpXsdOTbxPzRkel15ustQbEu775eFr5VuIIqiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Guam Legislature on Thursday voted to place vetoed Bill 27-38 COR, which would amend provisions of chapter 60, title 10 of the Guam Code Annotated related to firearm suppressors, into the third-reading file so members can consider overriding the governor’s veto.

The motion to advance the bill was made by Senator Parkinson and carried after objections and floor debate. Senator Parkinson argued the measure protects hearing for lawful firearm users and range personnel, saying, “Suppressors are not what we've seen on television. They don't make guns completely silent. They are a safety tool for people who practice with firearms in a responsible manner.” He urged colleagues to be consistent with earlier recorded support for the measure and to allow lawful citizens the option to reduce hearing damage when practicing with firearms.

The governor’s veto message, read to the chamber during debate, raised the opposite concern: broad availability of suppressors could reduce the audible warning that gunfire provides and therefore increase risk to the public. The veto message said, in part, “the need to accessorize a firearm cannot override public safety concerns... The loud sound of gunfire is the most easily recognizable warning that a gun has been fired in a person's vicinity, lawfully or unlawfully, and enables the person who hears that sound to get to safety if necessary.” The veto noted testimony from the Guam Police Department and concerns from teachers and parents about reduced ability to detect a shooting if suppressors were widely available.

Several senators described a narrower compromise they wished had been included in the bill — for example, allowing suppressor use for police and other public-safety officers — but the bill’s sponsor and other supporters said the device can be an important hearing-protection tool for civilians as well as law enforcement. Senator Parkinson said the devices “merely lower the range of the noise to levels that would be less damaging to our hearing.” Opponents cited the GPD’s written testimony and the governor’s veto when urging caution.

By a voice/hand vote the chamber ordered the bill into the third-reading file for a future override vote; no final override vote is recorded in the excerpted transcript.

Next steps: the bill will appear on the legislature’s third-reading file so members can schedule and, if they choose, hold a recorded vote to attempt to override the governor’s veto.","Senators voted to place vetoed Bill 27-38 COR — which would amend Guam law to allow ownership, possession and use of firearm suppressors — into the third-reading file for a possible override of the governor’s veto after floor debate highlighted competing public-safety and hearing-protection arguments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Foster Care Bill of Rights advanced to third reading after broad bipartisan floor debate

Legislature advances election-law rewrite to voting file; supporters call it fairness and clarity

Legislature advances bill to tax vehicle transfers by notarized bill of sale, supporters say it will ease abandoned-vehicle problem

Legislature moves suppressor bill to third reading after debate over public safety and hearing loss