Summary.
The bill proposes a public infrastructure program under which State entities and institutions would have premises of their own. Each entity or institution would prepare a plan to progressively reduce office rental spending, subject to endorsement by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas). The plans would focus on building publicly owned facilities on State land and would apply throughout the country's provinces and comarcas. They could also provide for renovating unused or deteriorated government buildings, expanding existing buildings, and constructing facilities on undeveloped State property.
A government complex would be established in each provincial capital to house State entities and institutions that do not own premises when the proposed law takes effect. The Ministry of Economy and Finance would also prepare a public infrastructure development plan for the offices of institutions within the central government. These provisions connect each institution's plan with central government office planning and the use of State property.
To reduce spending on the rental of buildings and premises used as offices or other physical space by public entities, the bill would use the amount approved in the General State Budget law for fiscal year 2025 as its baseline, excluding the amended budget. It sets progressive minimum reductions of 10% in 2027, 20% in 2029, 30% in 2032, 40% in 2035 and 50% in 2037. The rule would also cover any future budget classification for the rental of such space. The Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República) would set a maximum annual rental price per square meter for offices or premises.
In 2030, public entities and institutions with offices in the corregimiento de San Felipe would have to move them outside that area. The bill excepts the Palace of the Herons (Palacio de las Garzas), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores), offices of the Communal Board (Junta Comunal), public security offices, the health center, tourist assistance offices, and State owned buildings open to the public as museums, interpretation centers or tourist sites. Entities and institutions that are not renting offices when the proposed law takes effect would also be excepted from its application.
When a State entity or institution rents its office premises, it could not charge users for parking for at least the first two hours. This provision would apply to State contract renewals and new contracts. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), through the Ministry of the Presidency (Ministerio de Presidencia), would issue regulations for the proposed law, which would take effect upon publication in the Official Gazette. The bill concerns the public entities it names and could be of interest to office and commercial premises landlords, the construction sector, and users of public offices.
What it proposes.
- Publicly owned office infrastructure for the public sector.
- Progressive reduction of State spending on office rentals.
- Maximum rent per square meter and parking charges.
- Location of public offices in provincial capitals and the corregimiento de San Felipe.
Who it would affect.
- State entities and institutions that rent offices.
- Public institutions within the central government.
- Users of rented State offices.
- Landlords leasing offices or premises to the State.
Key points.
- Each State entity or institution would prepare a rental reduction plan, endorsed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, focused on its own facilities on State land.Art. 2
- Each provincial capital would have a government complex for entities without premises of their own when the proposed law takes effect.Art. 3
- The Ministry of Economy and Finance would prepare an infrastructure plan for central government offices.Art. 4
- Minimum rental spending reductions would be measured against the amount approved for fiscal year 2025 and would be 10% in 2027, 20% in 2029, 30% in 2032, 40% in 2035 and 50% in 2037.Art. 5
- The Comptroller General of the Republic would set a maximum annual rental price per square meter for offices or premises.Art. 6
- Public offices in the corregimiento de San Felipe would move outside the area in 2030, subject to exceptions for specified institutions, services and buildings open to the public.Art. 7
- Entities and institutions that are not renting offices when the proposed law takes effect would be excepted from its application.Art. 8
- Users of rented State offices would not be charged for parking for at least the first two hours; the rule would cover contract renewals and new contracts.Art. 9