Sen. William A. Parkinson has formally requested an explanation from the Committee on Rules after more than a month passed without referral of Bill No. 242-38 for a public hearing.
In a letter sent Monday, Parkinson said the measure, introduced Dec. 5, 2025, has not been referred to any committee, calling the delay unusual and concerning. “Referrals usually take days, not weeks or months,” Parkinson said, adding that regardless of support or opposition, the public deserves a fair process and the opportunity to be heard.
Bill 242-38 proposes amendments to Guam’s political status plebiscite law by removing ancestry-based voter restrictions that courts have deemed unconstitutional under the Fifteenth Amendment. The bill would redefine eligible voters as all registered voters under Guam law, a change Parkinson said is necessary to clear the legal path for a long-delayed plebiscite.
Parkinson cited the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in Davis v. Guam, which held that the existing statute must be amended before any lawful plebiscite can proceed. He emphasized that the bill is not intended to diminish historical experiences, but to establish a process capable of withstanding constitutional scrutiny.
In his letter, Parkinson requested clarification on the bill’s procedural status, identification of any administrative or drafting issues causing the delay, and information on the anticipated referral date and committee of jurisdiction. He warned that prolonged inaction, intentional or not, risks denying the public its right to testify.
“When measures sit without referral, the public hearing cannot happen,” Parkinson said. “That is a disservice to the constituents we serve.”
Parkinson said the issue extends beyond the bill itself to the integrity of the legislative process. “The minimum we owe our people is a transparent process with timely referral and a public hearing where every voice can be heard,” he said.
