Senators heard testimony June 11 on a measure to let veterans use military driver training as the basis for a Guam chauffeur's license.

The bill, Bill 84‑38 COR, was explained by Senator Joe St. Augustine in a prepared statement read by Senator Tina Rosemary Barnes: “This bill proposes that any veteran with an honorable discharge verified through a DD 214 or an NGB 22, who have completed the military drivers training program, should be eligible for the for a Guam chauffeur's license.” The bill would extend relevant endorsements based on military qualifications.

The measure’s stated intent is to remove what its sponsor described as redundant testing for veterans who completed comprehensive military driver training. Senator Barnes told the committee the training “covers everything from accident avoidance to convoy operations and equipment maintenance” and that adopting military certifications would help veterans transition into civilian jobs.

Marie Lizama, director of the Department of Revenue and Taxation, told the committee the agency “agree[s] that it will streamline the process” and said the department already accepts state endorsements; adding military certifications explicitly would “remove any confusion.” Lizama said, based on a fiscal note from the Bureau of Budget and Management Research, the bureau “finds that Bill 84‑38 as currently written is administrative in nature and poses no fiscal impact upon any funds of the government of Guam.”

Joseph Augustine, director of Veterans Affairs, urged a verification step so the office can certify that military certificates are authentic before the department issues endorsements. Augustine said his office could “certify as legit” the certificates veterans present and recommended the bill include a registry or verification process to guard against fraudulent documents.

Technical questions focused on what endorsements would be issued and whether experience requirements should be added. Art Menel of the motor vehicle licensing staff explained Guam’s licensing structure: a chauffeur endorsement covers lighter commercial work, while larger passenger or heavy-vehicle endorsements (buses, tractor‑trailers) require additional testing and behind‑the‑wheel experience. Senator Sean Gumitatao and others asked whether the federal FMCSA program that waives road skills tests for veterans with two years of experience would inform Guam’s policy and whether any time window should be required between discharge and application.

The committee collected oral testimony and asked agencies to submit written comments and any fiscal documentation. No formal vote or committee action was taken; the hearing record will be supplemented by requested written testimony and agency follow‑up.

Committee staff indicated they will work with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Revenue and Taxation to draft any clarifying amendments that define which military certificates qualify, how endorsements map from military qualifications to Guam license classes, and the verification process for presented documents.

The hearing concluded with no vote on the measure; the committee will accept written testimony and technical recommendations for the bill’s markup.