Governor signs four laws toughening corruption penalties and reforming condominiums, campaigns and statistics
Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed four new laws on Friday, August 1, a legislative package touching everything from campaign finance oversight to how condominium owners resolve disputes in court 1. The measures -- Laws 154, 155, 156, and 157 of 2026 -- are joined by a joint resolution naming an iconic Condado park 2.
The four laws in detail
Law 154-2026 (HB 1121) -- Campaign finance oversight: Amends the Political Campaign Financing Oversight Act and the Municipal Code. It clarifies restrictions on government advertising spending during electoral periods while establishing exceptions that allow the government to inform citizens about essential services and emergencies 1. It also modifies Article 2.055 of the Municipal Code to streamline personnel administrative processes when a mayor is reelected 2. The bill was championed by House Speaker Carlos "Johnny" Méndez 3.
Law 155-2026 (SB 171) -- Mandatory restitution for illicit enrichment: Amends the Penal Code to make restitution penalties mandatory when a person convicted of illicit enrichment obtained the benefit they pursued through criminal conduct 1. The measure was filed by Senator Ada Álvarez Conde and aims to ensure that ill-gotten money or assets return to the public treasury 3. Until now, restitution was discretionary for the court; under this law, it becomes an automatic requirement.
Law 156-2026 -- Statistics Institute modernization: Updates the organic law of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. The most tangible change: it raises the procurement approval threshold for equipment, materials, and services from $36,000 to $100,000 12. The goal is to streamline the institute's administrative operations and eliminate obsolete legal references that slowed its internal processes.
Law 157-2026 -- Condominium Law reform: Transfers primary jurisdiction over horizontal property disputes to the Court of First Instance, creates specialized courtrooms for these cases, and establishes minimum training requirements for condominium administrators 12. For the thousands of condo residents who have endured endless conflicts with boards of directors or negligent administrators, this means courts with judges who understand the subject matter and administrators who must demonstrate competence.
Joint Resolution 43-2026: Designates the Ventana al Mar Park on Ashford Avenue in Condado, San Juan, as "Doña Kate Donnelly Park" in recognition of her community service contributions 2.
What this means for you
If you live in a condominium, Law 157 is the one that impacts you most. Claims against abusive administrators or boards of directors that refuse to be accountable now go directly to the Court of First Instance with specialized chambers for these cases. That should reduce resolution times compared to the previous process.
If you are concerned about government corruption, Law 155 closes a loophole: previously, an official convicted of illicit enrichment could avoid returning what was stolen if the judge did not expressly order it. Now restitution is automatic.
If you are a reelected mayor or municipal employee, Law 154 streamlines personnel transition processes by eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic steps.
How to act / Checklist
- If you have an active dispute in your condominium, consult with an attorney about whether to file under the new Court of First Instance jurisdiction once the law takes effect.
- Verify that your condominium administrator meets the new training requirements established by Law 157.
- Review your board of directors' meeting minutes to identify pending issues that would now have a more agile judicial forum.
- If you suspect illicit enrichment by a public official, file a complaint with the Department of Justice knowing that restitution is now mandatory under Law 155.
- Citizens and organizations can monitor government advertising spending during the next electoral cycle under the parameters clarified in Law 154.
What comes next
The laws take effect immediately upon publication in La Gaceta. The Supreme Court will need to establish the specialized condominium chambers in the Courts of First Instance, a process that could take months. The governor also has pending the evaluation of other bills passed during the legislative session, including measures on construction permits and inventory tax that she has identified as priorities for the next session 4. The Comptroller's Office, meanwhile, is pushing three additional transparency bills, including a mandatory digital platform for the registration of all government contracts 4.
Sources
1 El Nuevo Día — Cuatro nuevas leyes ya tienen la firma de Jenniffer González
2 El Vocero — Jenniffer González firma cuatro nuevas leyes
3 Primera Hora — Gobernadora firma leyes para controlar gastos en elecciones y combatir la corrupción
4 El Vocero — Contralora impulsa paquete de proyectos legislativos
Sources
Reported by the CoquiList Newsroom · Facts backed by the sources cited above
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