[{"_1":2,"_118":-5,"_119":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6513547,"mediaKeyId","5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7","parentId",5070642,"title","Senate adopts package of bills including language education, public-intoxication rules and port finance change; confirmations approved","audioSeconds",2844,"startMs",632000,"endMs",3476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7&start=632&end=3476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7/thumbnail_632000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6513547/Senate-adopts-package-of-bills-including-language-education-public-intoxication-rules-and-port-finance-change-confirmations-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513547-c2e97c1da5d286446203d75942676728/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688440&Signature=IuWOtImiGNhF5raSTJuLppafMHFlQE1xcY5YQ0rNkuC2-iY0~cgMoo~RkAiYtTHGvOFPQTQf~CJ8BUo~ON0RIVRTaWC6oCBG4mGqPxRFXhnarD4uabRy4C304lcyxxxLPQOYdOop7pdWoR-Gx~nXPN5HJ0FMJRe~YgeNSnloAutZ9vW1~j6z8pWEjC6z91p1jWkzaSAw3CFycesT03loGuZlKBbMlfIkcO7UAbw2lKm1qEkSDzcKCyVsSFdCeDuhBy2tB~9QxyISFxdFdKZhz3AOWPY71xKD7GyqTfEegQ2-2tFpItsFc9gqDRuJg0XmMZayC3AgwdRyjRtAdjWpRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-06-23T18:00:51Z","article","The Senate convened in a special session June 22–23 and adopted a series of committee reports and bills affecting language instruction, public conduct, small-food entrepreneurs, off-road vehicle regulation, whistleblower protections, and ports financing. The chamber also confirmed two gubernatorial nominees.

Major outcomes voted by the Senate (all final tallies recorded on the floor):

• Senate Bill 24‑04 — Advance indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian language education in the CNMI: Passed (7 yes). The measure had public comment and committee backing and was moved for passage on the bill calendar.

• Senate Bill 24‑31 (SD1) — Ensure food safety and support small food entrepreneurs selling low‑risk, nonperishable and home‑cooked meals: Passed (7 yes). Committee and floor discussion emphasized reducing barriers for home-based entrepreneurs and involvement of Public Health personnel.

• Senate Bill 24‑11 (SD1) — Regulate off‑road vehicles (ATVs, UTVs, side‑byside): Passed (7 yes). Sponsors said the bill would allow safer, lower‑cost transport alternatives for districts with lighter traffic and provide rules for use.

• Senate Bill 24‑13 (SD1) — Whistleblower protections, reward mechanisms for reporting underpayments of taxes and recovery of public funds: Passed (7 yes). Proponents described the bill as a mechanism to protect and incentivize reporting of prohibited personnel practices and fraud.

• Senate Bill 24‑28 (SD1) — Amend 6 CMC §3113 to establish disorderly conduct and public intoxication crimes: Passed (7 yes). Sponsors and supporters said the measure restores and clarifies criminal authority previously under the Trust Territory code and aims to give law enforcement tools to address public intoxication and disorderly conduct affecting residents and visitors.

• Conference Committee Report on House Bill 24‑17 SD1 (CCS1) — Amend 2 CMC §21‑74 to allow limited seaport revenue flexibility for the Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) for up to five years, with restrictions to preserve federal grant assurances: Adopted (floor voice; motion carries). Conferees said the final text limits revenue transfers to seaport funds only, explicitly preserving airport grant assurances and bond covenants.

• Senate Committee Report 24‑13 (Recycling Act amendments to designate DPW as authority): The motion to pass S.B. 24‑08 was withdrawn by the floor leader later in the session (motion withdrawn on the record).

• Confirmations: Standing committee reports adopting the committee recommendations to confirm (1) the nominee to serve as Secretary of the Department of Public Lands and (2) Joseph C. Guerrero to serve on the Marianas Visitors Authority board were each adopted (7 yes). The chamber recessed and reconvened prior to the roll calls on these confirmations.

Votes on the floor were typically recorded as unanimous 7‑0 in favor where shown; specific roll‑call member‑by‑member votes were not read into the transcript for the items summarized here. Where a vote tally appeared on the record, the clerk announced \"7 members voting yes.\" The Senate adopted additional routine journal approvals, resolutions, and commemorative measures during the session.

Details, sponsors and committee references for each item appear in the individual bills and committee reports entered in the Senate calendar during the special session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","250623 24th NMCL Sen Session [1:30pm]","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate convened in a June 22–23 special session and adopted multiple committee reports and bills affecting language instruction, public conduct, small‑business food vending, vehicle regulation, whistleblower protections and ports finance; two gubernatorial nominees were confirmed.","taxTitle","Senate, Northern Mariana Legislative Sessions, Northern Mariana Islands","taxId",20282,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6513529,"Senate confirms Department of Public Lands secretary nominee and Joseph C. Guerrero to Marianas Visitors Authority board",293,1634000,1927000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7&start=1634&end=1927","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7/thumbnail_1634000.jpg","/articles/6513529/Senate-confirms-Department-of-Public-Lands-secretary-nominee-and-Joseph-C-Guerrero-to-Marianas-Visitors-Authority-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513529-e7b5d206903f06590eb7019d5836f641/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688440&Signature=fMEhrMA7S7S5f7AaneVm7jVEnPb5FDCkyLaxodpiS38FeuftBkbPG1w3NdXXc1toAau0lpq6PlJzXzZVA9VuBn41O0fvEa6btLaf9C3zRWmxOzHLOdX9TMpWeTyRkrPn~EQV-8jBr7lKHjlfgbCUPBU8SEa6VQ5OiLFM~bTlenPuAZdOCyxexw6C1KVMirLAMHUQeV0pU82m2C31DUXHRZVyZoa7hsXq4aPU6JBhMGxJh~VhHOVkAOPFnxo1eBobBZV-R6w9iLRfvEYJohct8I9CnWQCQFj2ifeYnHA3us~gtNan0XF6BMsqcTg9IvoCMo6Gwpd1Wzx-E2EDYGqBCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate adopted standing committee report number 24‑14 confirming the executive appointment of the nominee to serve as Secretary of the Department of Public Lands. The committee reported multiple oral and written testimonies in support, no opposition and included recommendations for the appointee to address if confirmed. The clerk read the roll and announced 7 members voting yes; the Senate then adopted the report and confirmed the nominee on the record.

Immediately following, the Senate adopted standing committee report number 24‑15 confirming Joseph C. Guerrero to serve on the Marianas Visitors Authority board representing the Third Senatorial District. The committee reported several oral testimonies in support, multiple written testimonies and no opposing testimony. The clerk announced 7 yes votes for that confirmation as well.

Both confirmations were preceded by committee hearings in multiple districts (Tinian, Rota, Saipan) in May and June, according to committee statements on the floor. The floor record includes the committee chair’s summaries noting the hearings and the committee’s recommendation to the full Senate. The transcript does not include biographical details or proposed start dates beyond the committee report references.

","The Senate adopted committee reports recommending confirmation of the nominee to serve as Secretary of the Department of Public Lands and of Joseph C. Guerrero to the Marianas Visitors Authority board; both confirmations were recorded as 7 yes on the floor.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6513534,"Senate adopts conference committee changes to give CPA limited five‑year seaport revenue flexibility",144,3071000,3215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7&start=3071&end=3215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7/thumbnail_3071000.jpg","/articles/6513534/Senate-adopts-conference-committee-changes-to-give-CPA-limited-fiveyear-seaport-revenue-flexibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513534-b7fc171c13f132e9a0fc0eed0f935705/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688440&Signature=XMDa29-hykmLbxh8zBYEyeBgFithoxo0PrKlNRJvkE-zhPe5sVQ7WqtoEEBmGP7IVrlrie2m2FSRN02j2Grln3Fk2~afySWFKtQhI0wiHAU~OTY-2NOOrfJGwvrTNtrZVlQBQoaxjtXtDFqmlpnixClcQ3rgBAi1~lRrjNi37qboqMXXUsF1gyh2WwMQQkhKc1NSY1oWWQjjhmuvA2SP9bozXjCxaiOvCXiwkwhBRcWcB9J51-3PkGOZuh8ZatoIhh4RZU91MWqgT0~lTxAim1LY0jnCdq5ZiMiQdT0~rg7So3EvaK49sSSfv89CiCtyFnYM9nrwJuLeXrZRniMRmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate adopted conference committee report number 24‑01 on H.B. 24‑17 SD1 (CCS1), which would amend 2 CMC §21‑74 to permit the Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) a time‑limited ability to apply excess seaport revenues to operational needs, with an explicitly preserved prohibition on diverting airport‑generated revenues. The clerk and conferees said the change addressed federal grant‑assurance constraints and bond covenant concerns.

On the floor, a conferee explained the primary difference between the House version and the conference committee version: the House draft would have allowed airport and seaport revenues to be used interchangeably; the conference committee restricted the authority to seaport revenues only. The conference committee maintained a five‑year sunset period for the flexibility and added language aimed at ensuring legal compliance with federal grant assurances for airports.

The conferee noted that the committee kept the provision allowing CPA to use excess seaport revenue for up to five years to restore employee hours and operations \"after all legal obligations have been met.\" Senators on the floor expressed appreciation to CPA leadership and staff who provided testimony and to the conferees for working expediently.

The motion to adopt the conference committee report carried on the floor; the transcript records the motion as carried (motion carries). The passage is intended to provide CPA short‑term financial flexibility while preserving airport grant and bond obligations; specific accounting, oversight or reporting requirements were not read into the floor record.

","The Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. 24‑17 SD1 CCS1, narrowing language to allow the Commonwealth Ports Authority to use seaport — not airport — revenues for operational flexibility for a five‑year period while preserving federal grant assurances.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6513538,"Senate adopts law creating disorderly conduct and public‑intoxication offenses to aid enforcement in public areas",2977,3313000,6290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7&start=3313&end=6290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070642-7dcea6213c8150dbf97ddcc74f7502c7/thumbnail_3313000.jpg","/articles/6513538/Senate-adopts-law-creating-disorderly-conduct-and-publicintoxication-offenses-to-aid-enforcement-in-public-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513538-981a5421fcc009b924e9e389264d67ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688440&Signature=CI3pGBxsPylCdLPk98dHeixOInr2lw~KwBlwWIatx7DyiIdvBrIC2btAms3dSLvDe4gtXA1PhjDnCTBQFhYGx5ccvTT9rQgnczUgjI0M5xiZr8DMTE42Nvl5T0mLO6Pyq5KI9rsHijjvJsVV1rNNLkIYik9Az6IMCxC0R-~V0qLDnq1nuVgV0d0vsL2UwFxle9YSYJcAqyAt5MDRXycBiNqyR6m81bj1pNdzHW2DA5zXkzczaB~EHenBBgOb2Ba6v8ulwEByg~L3alF5j0JslMXoubJtjkLQBAyqTyXlWavWSCd2PpmOkZq~aBQkrNFgNWZu2lJ6p1J3ekwDTyxbtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate passed S.B. 24‑28 (SD1) to amend 6 CMC §3113 and criminalize disorderly conduct and public intoxication. The clerk recorded the final tally as seven members voting yes.

Senator Karina Magoffna (sponsor) asked colleagues to adopt the standing committee report and described the bill as a tool to “put some order and structure into our community” and to provide safety for residents and visitors. Senator Manny Castro and others recounted law enforcement requests and cited incidents of intoxicated individuals harassing tourists as part of the rationale for restoring clear statutory authority.

Senator Castro said, “this specific issue...historically, this was actually law, but it was under the Trust Territory government, and it's one of the laws that wasn't carried over,” urging the Senate to restore the local statutory authority.

The clerk announced: \"With 7 members voting yes, senate bill number 24 dash 28 SD1 hereby passes the senate.\" The transcript does not include the bill’s final text on the floor or implementation details; agencies responsible for enforcement were not listed during the floor vote.

Next steps: The bill passed the Senate during this special session; implementing regulations and identifying enforcement procedures and agency responsibilities are expected to follow but were not recorded in the session transcript.","S.B. 24‑28 (SD1) to amend 6 CMC §3113 and establish disorderly conduct and public‑intoxication crimes passed the Senate; sponsors said the measure restores authority formerly in Trust Territory law and gives enforcement tools to address public intoxication affecting residents and tourists.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":114,"_53":115,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":116,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":117,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6513543,"Senate passes bill to advance Chamorro and Carolinian language instruction after youth congress testimony","/articles/6513543/Senate-passes-bill-to-advance-Chamorro-and-Carolinian-language-instruction-after-youth-congress-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513543-0c21473b4561c7774db3845370127ff0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688440&Signature=L9LsNHDLWVU3lzTicitb4k4ex597CkioTfhdyPZDjuxoa6lrbs9R0kMRMs58YJYAJ0ILJBV1C2ZRJoHeVAJaWh-~604u5p7ZcIOxtTM5m6mZ8VrqT-FKDb45YeLfF8b8hjXVPFBU3L9rcnrf1rMdq0eOjUqIAv21a7Awoif6OK8~xH4zKDyYfvf7WeP6V7trawVYaupBw-SXzi8nfQFu5wEUrD1XRmsRI5sNepXp8sd8yvCMJS~fc4OCqmbb350W2Q4DM6ZA8BkvWEdlih4ehGNis~UasUH2YcCHW~G52cIq~YT4PWscR2aH4QdnGcoXR4HiUEKm3GjrGXj7266pPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate adopted S.B. 24‑04, legislation described by sponsors and public commentators as intended to strengthen instruction of the Chamorro and Carolinian languages across CNMI schools. The passage was recorded on the floor as 7 members voting yes.

During the public comment period, Adrian Sean Komatayumo, floor leader of the twentieth Youth Congress and chairman of its Committee on Education, told senators he would submit written testimony and urged support for the bill. \"I come to your own support of the adoption of senate bill 24 dash 0 4,\" Komatayumo said, adding the proposal would help preserve indigenous language and cultural heritage for current and future generations.

Senator Manny Castro, who spoke on the measure during floor debate, thanked the youth congress and cited challenges in bilingual programming and teacher pay equity. Castro said he had introduced a similar bill during his time in the House and urged colleagues to pass S.B. 24‑04 to provide equity for bilingual instructors and to advance language preservation.

The clerk recorded the final vote: \"With 7 members voting yes, senate bill number 24 dash 0 4 ... hereby passes the senate.\" The Senate adopted the standing committee report recommending the bill’s passage before the bill vote on the calendar.

Next steps: The bill was passed by the Senate during this special session; the transcript does not specify enactment timing, implementing regulations or specific funding allocations.

","The Senate passed S.B. 24‑04 to advance indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian language education following public comment from the youth congress and floor discussion; the bill passed on a recorded floor vote announced as 7 yes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate adopts package of bills including language education, public-intoxication rules and port finance change; confirmations approved

Senate confirms Department of Public Lands secretary nominee and Joseph C. Guerrero to Marianas Visitors Authority board

Senate adopts conference committee changes to give CPA limited five‑year seaport revenue flexibility

Senate adopts law creating disorderly conduct and public‑intoxication offenses to aid enforcement in public areas

Senate passes bill to advance Chamorro and Carolinian language instruction after youth congress testimony