Para ordenar a la Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportación de Puerto Rico (ACT) a confeccionar un inventario de todas las vallas publicitarias (“billboards”) en Puerto Rico, disponiéndose que el Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP) y la Oficina de Gerencia de Permisos (OGPe) tendrán el deber ministerial de brindar toda asistencia, información y colaboración que le sea requerida por la ACT; dicho inventario deberá detallar si los rótulos cuentan con permisos de construcción y de uso vigentes, si fueron erigidos sin permiso, y si se encuentran en posible violación del Highway Beautification Act de 1965 o de cualquier otra ley o reglamento federal aplicable; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Mandate Puerto Rico's road authority to inventory all billboards and verify permit compliance with federal beautification standards, requiring transportation agencies to provide full assistance.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill RCC 206 requires Puerto Rico's Road and Transportation Authority (ACT) to create a comprehensive inventory of all billboards on the island, documenting their permit status, construction legality, and compliance with federal Highway Beautification Act regulations. The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) and the Office of Permit Management (OGPe) are mandated to provide full assistance, information, and collaboration to support this inventory effort.

Why is this important

This bill addresses long-standing concerns about unregulated outdoor advertising infrastructure that may violate federal aesthetic and safety standards. The inventory could serve as a foundation for enforcement actions against illegal billboards, recovery of permitting fees, and alignment with federal highway beautification requirements that affect Puerto Rico's infrastructure funding eligibility. It also establishes accountability for which government agencies issued or failed to issue required permits.

Potential points of contention

Resource and cost implications: Creating a comprehensive island-wide inventory requires significant funding, personnel, and time; no budget allocation is specified in the bill

Enforcement follow-up: The bill mandates inventory creation but doesn't establish what happens afterward—compliance mechanisms, fines, removal procedures, or timelines for addressing violations remain undefined

Property rights and business impact: Billboard owners may face permit revocation or removal orders, raising concerns about retroactive enforcement and compensation for non-compliant installations that may have operated for years