Echevarría & Ruiz Goyco Law Firm
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On Thursday, October 22, 2026, the House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 1096 with amendments by a vote of 32 to 15, and the Senate concurred with those amendments the same day. The bill, authored by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, establishes a new Puerto Rico Judiciary Act that repeals the Judiciary Act of 2003. It now goes to La Fortaleza, where Governor Jenniffer González Colón may sign or veto it.
Hours after the vote, Chief Justice Maite Oronoz Rodríguez publicly urged the Governor to veto the bill. In a written statement, she said the measure "compromises the constitutional design of judicial administration and puts the institutional stability of the Judicial Branch at risk," and that a change of this magnitude must be made through a constitutional amendment submitted to the voters.
What the bill does
The authority to appoint regional administrative judges and other administrative officers shifts from the Chief Justice to the full Supreme Court, which will also adopt the rules for selecting them. The bill describes this as a shared-administration model between the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice.
The position of municipal judge is eliminated prospectively. No new appointments will be made, and the positions will be abolished as they become vacant. Sitting municipal judges keep their posts, duties, and salaries until their terms end.
The act expands the Judicial Academy's functions, strengthens access-to-justice and alternative dispute resolution programs, and updates the Bureau of Translations Act to speed up English-language publication of Supreme Court decisions, resolutions, and rules. It also amends Articles 62 and 67 of the Puerto Rico Notarial Act concerning notarial inspection, appointments, and records.
One of the House amendments extended the effective date from 90 to 120 days after enactment, to give the full Supreme Court time to organize under the new structure.
Who is affected
Any individual or business with a pending case, because internal rules for assigning judges and administering judicial regions may change during the transition. Notaries, because of the amendments to Articles 62 and 67 of the Notarial Act. And attorneys and parties with matters before municipal judges, whose positions will gradually be folded into the superior judge structure.
What to do now
Until the Governor signs, nothing changes. If the bill becomes law, we recommend reviewing cases with critical dates near the effective date and watching for the rules the Supreme Court adopts. Notaries should wait for the certified text before adjusting their inspection and recordkeeping practices, and anyone with matters in municipal courtrooms should confirm with the court how they will be reassigned.
If this matter affects you, you may schedule a consultation with Echevarría & Ruiz Goyco at erglawpr.com/citas or by calling 787-890-3239.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.