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Senators amend Chamorro spelling bill after compiler and community concerns
Summary
Lawmakers amended Bill 218-38 to add a collaborative role for the compiler of laws and moved the measure to third reading after floor debate that included warnings the change could exceed the compiler's statutory authority and risk alienating regional Chamorro speakers.
Senators on the General Government Operations and Appropriations floor debated amendments to Bill 218-38, a measure to standardize Chamorro spelling across government documents, and ordered the bill to the third reading file after adding language to address technical and oversight concerns.
Senator Perez urged colleagues to avoid retroactive implementation, saying it could create "unintended consequences with legal documents" and that legislative changes ordinarily take effect upon enactment rather than reaching back into existing law. The Speaker then called the question on an amendment to delete subsections B and C; no objections were raised and the amendment was ordered.
Senator Cowell proffered an amendment to add a new subsection authorizing "the compiler of law to collaborate with the commission on Chamorro language and the teaching of the history and culture of the indigenous people of Guam." The body took a brief recess to ensure the amendment's language conformed with prior floor changes.
A floor speaker who identified himself as Cosmasi read into the record the compiler of laws' written concerns, including that the tasks contemplated by Bill 218-38 could extend beyond the compiler's statutory authority and that the bill uses "vague standards" for changing statutory language. Cosmasi also read testimony from municipal leaders and academics who warned that a legislative mandate to change the language's spelling could "alienate speakers" and affect Chamorro usage across neighboring jurisdictions.
Supporters, including the bill's floor proponents, argued standardization would strengthen cultural literacy and make education and government documents consistent. Senator Cavo read a statement asserting the bill is "a thoughtful and forward‑looking measure" that would "affirm who, why, and what is Guam and its unique identity." The sponsor moved Bill 218-38, as amended, to the third reading file; there were no objections.
The next procedural steps are placement of the bill on third reading and any further technical drafting to reconcile the compiler's statutory role with the new collaborative language.
