Puerto RicoPS 102420th Legislative Assembly (2025-2028)SenateWALLET

Para enmendar las Secciones 1, 2 y 4 de la Ley Núm. 17 de 10 de junio de 1939, según enmendada, con el propósito de eliminar el requisito de residencia de doce meses previo a solicitar admisión de la abogacía; eliminar la disposición vigente que contempla la admisión sin examen de ciertos abogados admitidos en otras jurisdicciones; crear una Junta Especial para el Estudio de la Reciprocidad Profesional en la Abogacía y del Examen de Reválida, adscrita al Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico; y para otros fines relacionados

Sponsored By: Thomas Rivera Schatz (PNP)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

No residency wait for bar applicants

Effective immediately upon approval, applicants no longer need 12 months of Puerto Rico residency before applying for its bar exam. Applicants still need to be of legal age, meet character standards, and hold an approved law degree. Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court sets character review rules and decides whether foreign degrees qualify. It also sets the exam’s timing, format, scope, and examination board membership requirements. Newly admitted lawyers must swear to uphold the U.S. and Puerto Rico Constitutions and Puerto Rico laws, and faithfully perform their duties.

Some lawyers lose exam-free admission

Effective immediately upon approval, the law ends a route allowing certain lawyers licensed elsewhere to enter Puerto Rico practice without an exam. This includes qualifying lawyers admitted to the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico. Affected lawyers can no longer rely on that statutory route. The law does not state the costs of pursuing another admission path.

Pay rules for bar exam board

Examination board members who are not legislators or government officials receive daily pay for days served. Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court sets the daily amount. Their travel expenses are reimbursed as incurred.

New review of lawyers’ licensing options

The law creates a special board under Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court to study licensing agreements with other U.S. jurisdictions. It also studies uniform, portable bar exams, including the Uniform Bar Examination and NextGen Uniform Bar. Its review must consider Puerto Rico’s civil-law tradition and public protection standards; it does not itself grant new admission rights. The Court sets membership, with guaranteed seats for the Association of Puerto Rico Lawyers and the Puerto Rico Bar Association. A written report is due within one year of the board’s formal formation, with one additional year allowed; copies go to both legislative chambers.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Thomas Rivera Schatz

    PNP • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Brenda Pérez Soto

    PNP • Senate

  • Héctor Joaquín Sánchez Álvarez

    PNP • Senate

  • Luis Daniel Colón La Santa

    PNP • Senate

  • Rafael Santos Ortiz

    PNP • Senate

  • Wilmer Reyes Berríos

    PNP • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 53 • No: 18

House vote • 6/15/2026

Aprobado por Cámara en Votación Final

Yes: 34 • No: 12

Senate vote • 5/14/2026

Aprobado por el Senado en Votación Final

Yes: 19 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Ley Núm. 189 — Firmada por la Gobernadora

    8/18/2026Senate
  2. Enviado a la Gobernadora

    7/20/2026House
  3. Firmado por el Presidente de la Cámara

    6/25/2026House
  4. Firmado por el Presidente del Senado

    6/23/2026Senate
  5. Se dispone que sea enrolado

    6/19/2026House
  6. Cuerpo de Origen concurre con enmiendas

    6/19/2026Senate
  7. Aprobado por Cámara en Votación Final

    6/15/2026House
  8. Aprobado con enmiendas en sala

    6/15/2026House
  9. Aprobado con enmiendas del informe

    6/15/2026House
  10. En el Calendario de Ordenes Especiales de la Cámara

    6/15/2026House
  11. Remitido a Comisión de Calendarios de la Cámara

    6/5/2026House
  12. Entirillado del Informe

    6/5/2026House
  13. 1er Informe Comisión rendido con enmiendas

    6/5/2026House
  14. Referido a Comisión(es)

    5/21/2026House
  15. Aparece en Primera Lectura de la Cámara

    5/21/2026House
  16. Texto de Aprobación Final enviado a la Cámara

    5/14/2026Senate
  17. Aprobado por el Senado en Votación Final

    5/14/2026Senate
  18. Aprobado con enmiendas en sala

    5/14/2026Senate
  19. Aprobado con enmiendas del informe

    5/14/2026Senate
  20. En el Calendario de Ordenes Especiales del Senado

    5/14/2026Senate
  21. Remitido a la Comisión de Reglas y Calendario del Senado

    5/6/2026Senate
  22. Entirillado del Informe

    5/6/2026Senate
  23. 1er Informe Comisión rendido con enmiendas

    5/6/2026Senate
  24. Referido a Comisión(es)

    2/2/2026Senate
  25. Aparece en Primera Lectura del Senado

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Se dispone que sea enrolado

    6/19/2026

  • Texto de Aprobación Final enviado a la Cámara

    5/14/2026

  • Radicado

    1/29/2026

  • Radicado (Senado mirror)

    1/29/2026

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