Puerto Rico Senate Resolution Filed to Measure Effectiveness of the Public Order Code

On April 10, 2025, Senator Soto Aguilú filed Senate Resolution 136 whose title reads as follows:

To order the Municipal Affairs Committee of the Senate of Puerto Rico to conduct an exhaustive investigation on the effectiveness, implementation, and enforcement of the Public Order Codes adopted by the municipalities; to evaluate the impact of these codes on public safety, local economic development, tourism, and the quality of community life; and for other related purposes.

According to the explanatory memorandum of the measure, the Public Order Codes are tools adopted by the municipalities to guarantee a better quality of life for their citizens and promote their economic development.

Many municipalities have adopted these codes seeking to establish an appropriate balance between the right of citizens to live in peace and harmony with the economic needs of the commercial or tourist sector of the area.

On the other hand, the measure indicates that concerns have been expressed with the application of these codes and there are concerns about the impact that these restrictions may have on small and medium-sized businesses, among others.

Therefore, Senate Resolution 136 orders the Senate Committee on Municipal Affairs to conduct an investigation on the effectiveness, implementation and enforcement of the Public Order Codes adopted by the municipalities and their impact on public safety, economic development, tourism and the quality of community life, among others.