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Guam Legislature passes FY2027 General Appropriations Act on 8-7 vote; nominees confirmed
Summary
On third reading the Guam Legislature approved Bill No. 266-38 COR, the fiscal year 2027 General Appropriations Act, by an 8-7 roll call and confirmed several nominees including Jonathan R. Kwan (15-0). Lawmakers debated procurement reform, tourism spending and timing of the budget process.
The Guam Legislature passed Bill No. 266-38 COR, the fiscal year 2027 General Appropriations Act, on third reading after a roll call that resulted in 8 yeas and 7 nays. The chamber also unanimously confirmed Jonathan R. Kwan as a magistrate judge of the Superior Court of Guam and approved multiple appointments to the Guam Historic Preservation Review Board.
Supporters said the spending plan funds executive, legislative and judicial operations for the year ending Sept. 30, 2027, and includes targeted investments in education, public safety and recovery priorities. A senator who spoke in favor of the bill thanked committee leadership for work that he said modernized emergency communications, prioritized a new police precinct in Gigo and preserved funding for critical services. He said the budget is a “responsible” plan that the next governor can work with.
Opponents criticized the timing and process for the budget’s passage. Several senators said the session moved before key revenue information was available and that the calendar — which coincided with an impending primary election — curtailed full scrutiny. One senator urged the next governor to pursue procurement reform, saying procurement rules had repeatedly impeded agencies’ ability to buy basic needs.
Lawmakers also debated priorities in the bill. Speakers flagged continued funding near $30,000,000 for the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) despite visitor counts not yet returning to 2019 levels, and urged a close review of GVB spending. Other items cited in floor remarks included a $3,500,000 appropriation for Sanchez High School, $500,000 for the restaurant meals program (RMP), and a gasoline tax relief that was described on the floor as easing pump prices by 19 cents per gallon.
The chamber corrected an earlier recorded vote during the session — presiding officers noted that Senator Barnett had been incorrectly recorded on a prior reconsideration vote — but that correction did not change the earlier reconsideration outcome. After roll call, the presiding officer announced that Bill No. 266-38 COR "is duly passed by the body." The vote count as announced on the floor was 8 yeas and 7 nays.
On nominations, the presiding officer announced the confirmation of Jonathan R. Kwan to the Superior Court bench with a 15-0 roll call in favor. The Legislature also confirmed Polly Eric Forbes, Vincent A. R. Leon Guerrero and Michael W. McKeel as members of the Guam Historic Preservation Review Board; Lynn Rosalie Sealy Unguero was confirmed as the archaeologist representative by a majority vote.
The presiding officer closed the session after a motion to adjourn was made "subject to the call of the speaker, without objection." The Legislature scheduled a special session for Thursday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned with recognition of Liberation Day.
Votes at a glance: Bill No. 266-38 COR (FY2027 General Appropriations Act) — Passed, 8 yeas, 7 nays. Jonathan R. Kwan — Confirmed, 15 yeas, 0 nays. Guam Historic Preservation Review Board nominees — Confirmed (majority or unanimous as announced on the floor).
