[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86],{"_32":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":71,"_73":71},"mediaId",6484575,"mediaKeyId","5615026-f5999c128be3650f4130ea7c124df325","parentId",5615026,"title","House approves bill to increase frequency of high-school equivalency exams","audioSeconds",1448,"startMs",6962000,"endMs",8410000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5615026-f5999c128be3650f4130ea7c124df325&start=6962&end=8410","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5615026-f5999c128be3650f4130ea7c124df325/thumbnail_6962000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6484575/House-approves-bill-to-increase-frequency-of-high-school-equivalency-exams","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484575-f16a29b2f08312212f833fefef465373/orig.mp4?Expires=1769767515&Signature=NRFDlacwC~rHV~MtM4-xNUIpwotsudMtMroSEOwuS-s7Z1O6LtB8eWLAQ8in1cgZCi0wfe1tREIeb9AYdQ5pMODv0rMn~4ZzDcEyG4YC6YYJyT9b9t0vcc26txcAW-RVFSzrteB-j5iv~h6h0eaEN5BoP0xo2No5bo6dFOmu1hvu9ftwjSMNDREmT52wChlbqDp14VHEAHjK~4rQ~PLEsIVBJ2zpZwmGx1LlMXieR5MPZ1RQlYuQgYLUF07JdYdP7S9ePB4NevOajJo4359iSOtuAmhXYaZ58DxraSKymyAcLhjnEHy1WuHvY2upkFumgLiyvDaV521rNo26aFtROw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Camara de Representantes PR","date","2025-08-21T21:55:07.623Z","article","The House of Representatives approved Project of the House 190 on Aug. 21, 2025, an amendment to Law No. 170 of May 4, 1949, that adjusts requirements and increases the frequency for administration of the high-school equivalency exam (examen de equivalencia). The floor announced the measure passed with 47 votes in favor and none opposed.

Representative Nelly Lebr\u0000f3n spoke in favor of the bill, saying the equivalency exam has been a critical alternative path to a high-school diploma for people who were unable to finish in the traditional system and that this amendment \"viabiliza\" opportunities by offering more frequent testing windows without additional cost to the Department of Education. She argued the change supports workforce participation and personal advancement.

Following Lebr\u0000f3n's remarks the House voted to approve the amended text on the floor; the clerk announced approval after a voice vote and subsequent final tally. The bill's proponents said it does not require new departmental spending and aims to reduce delays between course completion and the ability to take the exam.

The bill will proceed to subsequent steps under the legislative process. Supporters said the change will improve access to education and may reduce medium- and long-term dropout indicators; no fiscal figures were provided on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hemiciclo","oneSentenceSummary","The House voted unanimously to approve a bill amending Law 170 (1949) to expand opportunities for adults to take high-school equivalency exams, a measure supporters said increases access to education and the workforce.","taxTitle","House of Representatives, House, Committees, Legislative, Puerto Rico","taxId",77854,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6484578,"House approves Senate bill 331 to add confidentiality protections for demographic records amid protests from press and researchers",3452,14562000,18014000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5615026-f5999c128be3650f4130ea7c124df325&start=14562&end=18014","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5615026-f5999c128be3650f4130ea7c124df325/thumbnail_14562000.jpg","/articles/6484578/House-approves-Senate-bill-331-to-add-confidentiality-protections-for-demographic-records-amid-protests-from-press-and-researchers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484578-cffba3abdba362dcefe53ec653ead635/orig.mp4?Expires=1769767515&Signature=EgYwvEPAEbhZoDa685xm6FlmcYKKCeQlsfJlk8ehFON0U6hqml1igFSfZuwSAoBNgl9CUX7liCX4~iC67n0SjxEyegj9W7UyvLKTdPBy24YZLx40Wp26oWsjgDzQvzEsC9zPc~GUCPWUXxXJasKu8YYiqimP~oqRhlsixaTAQdT1czG7MrKMJ1TNJbGNjt859eQjmlz4GwuKzJG9hY5JEtkSVYWaWTf24tTmg2d9yEdVDBk2Ei9rONWDHub-FUiWh3G7OaMqwws2Q-EVgxNTHZNmeCo2x79GTEdUMYx9d0Dkq7ZalWWO7HyQgp0UPY1yUovqxuRFiZYO-zemKhoRLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 331 on Aug. 21, 2025, a measure that adds confidentiality rules to certain records held by Puerto Rico's Demographic Registry, voting 30 in favor and 7 opposed, the clerk announced after the final tally.

Opponents on the floor and in earlier public hearings said the bill would substantially restrict access to data used in public-health research, investigative reporting and oversight of government services. Representative Héctor Ferrer Santiago read a multi-page report from public hearings convened by the Colegio de Abogados and the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, summarizing testimony from civil-society groups, academic researchers and journalists who urged rejection of the bill. \"Se recomienda rechazar el proyecto del Senado 3 3 1 en su totalidad,\" Ferrer Santiago said while reading recommendations from the hearings.

Witnesses at the public forum said access to death certificates and other demographic data has enabled independent research into excess deaths after Hurricane Maria, patterns in policing-related deaths, disparities in gender-based violence and the identification of deceased registered voters used in voter-list maintenance. Organizations that testified included Kil\u0000f3metro 0, the Centro del Periodismo Investigativo (CPI), the Observatorio de Equidad de G\u0000e9nero and university legal clinics. Experts suggested alternatives such as anonymization, controlled-access protocols and statistical data releases rather than a blanket confidentiality rule.

Supporters of the bill, including Representative Gabriel Rodr\u0000edguez Aguil\u0000f3, the House health committee chair, said the measure aims to protect sensitive personal information and to clarify \"partes interesadas\" (who may request records). Rodr\u0000edguez Aguil\u0000f3 argued that guardians, direct relatives and properly authorized legal representatives should be prioritized for access to sensitive records.

On the final vote announced at the end of the day, the clerk reported the project of the Senate 331 passed 30-7. The floor debate included calls from both sides for clearer procedural safeguards: opponents asked for robust data-access protocols for researchers and journalists; supporters stressed protecting privacy and preventing misuse of personal information.

The bill modifies provisions related to Law 24 (Registro Demogr\u0000e1fico) and changes the definition of \"parte interesada,\" limits disclosure to specified circumstances (direct relatives, judicial order or anonymized data for public-policy research) and directs the Demographic Registry to implement safeguards. The measure now moves to whatever follow-up steps are required post-floor approval in the legislative process.","The House approved Senate Bill 331 after floor debate; opponents — including journalists, researchers and civil-society groups — warned the measure would restrict access to birth, death and marriage records that have been used for public-health and investigative reporting.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6484583,"House creates joint commission to review Puerto Rico electoral code",2302,10710000,13012000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5615026-f5999c128be3650f4130ea7c124df325&start=10710&end=13012","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5615026-f5999c128be3650f4130ea7c124df325/thumbnail_10710000.jpg","/articles/6484583/House-creates-joint-commission-to-review-Puerto-Rico-electoral-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6484583-d7078d44d6c7487413038c4511ff59cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1769767515&Signature=C~49Al8t~OTgHgF8rAQS2Fl-7BiGmnnCQ8GaNG3vMCEml7Ta-nII83zyV8ygdQLzZWuhsEe1icSaPTXA7eycubRWq~J5GUtKW-bGha17czspu5HC4miZWY-VD4sqVQrneMoo0w5WMyMC7GVhblzw6JrDQo77P6SuZi7t9pFqY8FbU4iEn7TSrTxr08K0qySJ9wV0LRXNgnZFw9jTG6T202m88TsU2MaxyJLUiAweYcPPWg30ZcIjoQMrXLpdLwBF5Kq7bMkjO0AFCPH9IMpfQ8gmw~dg6CgeK4yGbt021zuaLRup1xL9O5CO4FxpbSkN4cklN~PvalzEBtQYRSIigA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House of Representatives approved a concurrent resolution on Aug. 21, 2025, to create a joint legislative commission to review the island's Electoral Code and recommend changes, the chamber's president announced after a roll-call vote.

Supporters said the commission is intended to restore public confidence and examine recurring problems in recent elections, including absentee and early voting procedures and the structure and powers of the State Elections Commission. Representative Ramón Torres emphasized the need to recover \"certeza y fe\" (certainty and faith) in the electoral process, saying the commission should produce recommendations \"con el aval de todos los partidos.\" Representative Connie Varela and others urged the commission to move quickly and to examine specific technical areas, including SIPE, JAVA and operations.

Lawmakers on both sides said the commission should seek consensus, but debate focused on how minority parties would be represented on the panel. Representative Ferrer Santiago proposed provisions to increase minority representation and to change how the commission selected co-chairs; his amendment failed. Several minority members and supporters warned that excluding broader representation would undermine the commission's credibility. Representative Par\u0000e9s Otero and others stressed that the commission must ensure minority voices have \"voz y voto\" (voice and vote).

The resolution requires the joint commission to evaluate multiple aspects of the current code, including early and absentee voting modalities, use of modern technologies for vote counting, territorial organization of voter registration boards and the commission's internal decision-making powers. The House also specified that the commission's work should include consultation with political parties and relevant stakeholders and name an executive director; Representative Par\u0000eds Otero suggested Mundo R\u0000edos as a candidate for that post.

The measure passed on a final vote called later in the day; the clerk announced the resolution concurrente de la c\u0000e1mara 24 was approved with 47 votes in favor and none opposed. House members said the commission will report back to the Legislature; the resolution text assigns duties, membership parameters and reporting requirements to the joint panel.

Lawmakers who objected to some of the floor amendments said they would continue to press for minority participation and procedural guarantees once the commission convenes. Supporters said the commission aims to produce consensus-based proposals ahead of the next election cycle.

The chamber scheduled final steps and commission referrals as part of the legislative calendar. The House adjourned its session later the same day.","The House approved a concurrent resolution to create a joint legislative commission to review and propose changes to Puerto Rico's Electoral Code; lawmakers debated membership, scope and the need for consensus and minority participation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House approves bill to increase frequency of high-school equivalency exams

House approves Senate bill 331 to add confidentiality protections for demographic records amid protests from press and researchers

House creates joint commission to review Puerto Rico electoral code