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House passes sports calendar bill after heated debate over fundraising and enforcement powers
Summary
Lawmakers approved a bill to create a centralized sports calendar and new registration and oversight rules for youth and amateur events. Critics warned the measure could restrict local fundraisers and overcentralize authority; the House approved the bill 47–5 (one absence).
The House approved Project of the House 568 on June 24, 2025, a measure that creates a centralized sports calendar and new registration and oversight requirements for organized sporting events. The final recorded vote was 47 in favor, 5 against, with one absence.
Sponsor Representative Carlos Acosta framed the bill as a public-safety and child-welfare measure meant to reduce event congestion and protect youths from over-scheduling. The bill requires organizers to register events with the Department of Recreation and Sports (DRD), provide safety and logistical plans, and meet licensing and insurance requirements; the DRD would publish and maintain a consolidated calendar of events.
The measure also included a controversial provision limiting which groups may hold events that solicit donations “for fundraising purposes.” As drafted on the floor, the provision restricted those fundraising events to (1) school graduating classes authorized by their institutions and (2) entities registered as nonprofits with the Treasury Department. Opponents said that language could unintentionally bar informal community fundraising — for example, impromptu tournaments to raise money for an individual’s medical expenses — and could impinge on longstanding local practices for supporting families and clubs.
Representative Ferrer Santiago and Representative Denis Márquez Lebrón urged returning the bill to committee to widen the consultative record and fix the drafting. They warned the fundraising restriction may violate citizens’ associative and speech rights and said the Department of Recreation and Sports lacks the operational capacity and regional presence to implement a comprehensive calendar across dozens of sports. Supporters said the DRD can issue regulations and that a central calendar would protect youth athletes and families by preventing conflicting schedules and reducing travel burdens.
Floor debate also touched on enforcement: the bill conditions certain municipal permits (including fire-department approvals) on registration with the DRD. Critics said that coupling permits to DRD registration could create bottlenecks that delay otherwise lawful community events.
After debate the author agreed to leave the bill on the table for further refinements during the afternoon; later in the day the measure returned to the floor and was approved with the language on fundraising and DRD authority intact. Members of the House’s majority said they would work with the author to introduce clarifying amendments in future sessions.
Why it matters: The bill centralizes scheduling for hundreds of amateur and youth sporting events across Puerto Rico and creates new administrative steps for organizers. Local leagues, schools and community groups will need to adapt to registration and insurance requirements and — if they raise funds for individuals or informal causes — may need to re-evaluate their fundraising vehicle or organizational status.
Next steps: The bill passed the House; any administrative rules, including timelines for registration and review, will be developed by the Department of Recreation and Sports if the measure becomes law.
