Guam Legislature advances hotel-zone property maintenance code to third reading after amendments

Vice Speaker Alice urged colleagues to move Bill 16038, which would allow Guam to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code for hotel-zone buildings, facilities and green spaces, describing the proposal as “short and simple” and saying it received unanimous support in the public hearing from GVB, the tourism industry and DPW. The measure was pitched as complementary to the recent tourism aesthetics law and as a tool to speed rebuilding in Tumon after Typhoon Sri Laku.

The sponsor and floor proponents said the IPMC would authorize periodic maintenance—removing mold, repainting exterior walls and landscaping upkeep—limited to hotel-zone properties. A floor amendment added a definitional sentence making the International Code Council (ICC) explicit as the code’s creator; another amendment inserted the words “duly adopt” after “shall implement” in the DPW applicability section to clarify adoption procedures.

Lawmaker Buenos Torres argued that the bill should require formal rulemaking under the Administrative Adjudication Act (AAA) rather than leaving implementation solely to DPW or the Guam Visitors Bureau, saying the IPMC contains subjective standards (for example, “well maintained” or repaint triggers) that could be costly and unevenly applied. Vice Speaker Alice and the sponsor accepted a change to require adoption pursuant to the AAA; the Speaker then called for objections and none were raised, so the amendment as amended was ordered.

Several senators spoke in support on policy and economic grounds, saying well-maintained streetscapes in Tumon are critical to tourist repeat visits and local jobs. After co-sponsor additions and floor adjustments, the body ordered the bill, as amended, to third reading without objection. The Legislature recessed for other business.

The next procedural step is the third reading, where members will consider final passage and any further amendments.