Authorized statement regarding Senate Bill 923 and the legislative process to amend Article 92 of the Puerto Rico Penal Code

Authorized statement by attorney Annette Martínez Orabona, executive director of the ACLU of Puerto Rico, regarding Senate Bill 923, which seeks to amend Article 92 of the Puerto Rico Penal Code, defining “murder,” to redefine “human being” as the “conceived at any stage of gestation”:

“The expedited and inadequate process given to Senate Bill 923 in the Senate, at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session, adds to the long list of measures approved in 2025 without the corresponding public discussion and analysis, despite their impact or potential impact on civil and constitutional rights. In light of this action, our call is now directed to members of the House of Representatives to guarantee a transparent and participatory process, through public hearings in which all parties potentially affected by this bill are heard and addressed, since if enacted into law, it undoubtedly seeks the prohibition and criminalization of abortion in Puerto Rico.”