All Roll Calls
Yes: 0 • No: 0
GuamBill No. 169-38 (COR)38th Guam Legislature (2025-2026)legislatureWALLET
AN ACT TO AMEND AND RENUMBER ARTICLE 8 OF CHAPTER 3, TITLE 10 GUAM CODE ANNOTATED TO A NEW CHAPTER 98 TO TITLE 10 GUAM CODE ANNOTATED RELATIVE TO ESTABLISHING GUAM COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AS AN AUTONOMOUS AGENCY.
Sponsored By: Therese M. Terlaje (Democrat)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Patients help oversee Guam health centers
The health center board has 9–25 members, and at least 51% must be patients. Patient members must reflect the people served, including race, ethnicity, and gender. Other members must represent the community and bring relevant skills. No more than half of non-patient members may earn over 10% of their annual income from health care. Center employees and their spouses, children, parents, or siblings by blood or marriage cannot serve. Selection rules must appear in the centers’ governing rules and receive federal Health Resources and Services Administration approval. Board rules must require approval of yearly budgets, three-year plans, and annual plan updates. The board also reviews service needs and new or renewed federal grant applications, and must approve allowed spending over $5,000 by resolution.
Guam health centers gain independent management
The law creates an independent public agency to run Guam’s community health centers. The transition from the health department starts upon enactment and lasts three years. The centers can request one-year extensions for up to three more years, allowing six years total. Extension requests require notice to the Governor and Legislature, plus a progress report with a revised completion timeline. Program duties, assets, money, and assigned staff transfer to the centers; staff keep their job status, pay, earned benefits, and rights. The centers take charge of federal grants, compliance, and services, with temporary help from the Department of Administration. Existing contracts and agreements stay in effect unless the centers end them. The law also repeals Executive Orders 70-25 and 86-05 concerning the Southern Regional Community Health Center.
Unpaid health bills risk tax refunds
The law allows income tax refunds to be collected for unpaid Guam Community Health Centers products or services. The board must approve an agreement with the Department of Revenue and Taxation by resolution. It must also adopt a policy for referring refund collection requests. The law does not automatically take refunds from everyone who owes money.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Therese M. Terlaje
Democrat • legislature
Cosponsors
Chris “Malafunkshun” Barnett
Democrat • legislature
Frank F. Blas Jr.
Republican • legislature
Joe S. San Agustin
Democrat • legislature
Sabina F. Perez
Democrat • legislature
Sabrina Salas Matanane
Republican • legislature
Telo T. Taitague
Republican • legislature
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 1/29/2026
Floor Vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Public Law 38-97 — lapsed
2/11/2026GovernorFiscal note filed
10/9/2025legislatureFiscal note requested
10/1/2025legislatureReferred to committee
10/1/2025legislatureIntroduced as Bill No. 169-38 (COR)
7/7/2025legislatureTransmitted to Governor
legislatureCommittee report filed
legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
7/7/2025
Committee Report
Enrolled (Public Law)
Transmittal
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