[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6655669,"mediaKeyId","5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200","parentId",5381387,"title","Senate approves reconciliation bill waiving CHCC penalties to CUC; debate centers on fairness and fiscal impacts","audioSeconds",3951,"startMs",4645000,"endMs",8596000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200&start=4645&end=8596","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200/thumbnail_4645000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655669/Senate-approves-reconciliation-bill-waiving-CHCC-penalties-to-CUC-debate-centers-on-fairness-and-fiscal-impacts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655669-07f9ec23154020151a233fa0e26da245/orig.mp4?Expires=1774884355&Signature=CJnuAZxhpVr1PZB1cyvNbzMbZclOmbWweR0X618Lwiu6KMRycp-SDK2-Gfgy5C8AwC1S-cdhBfAoHDrDhS68gFtt51tCjJk62cGUZQlPDtb1IAzsYGCn2twsUmy6jERCzY6NKqCiJMWX~Bo17ViLvLTUysQJHnbJsR-~iQmgaCOkZvpxHcILPb16Zfz3G6mXUKmlcNAPL3vOHb01KA-rAlaTbWQytxsllFXMfA8IRPirv4xpjNGy-FbAC3iAK5Wclwc-U99Q17OFP9Z8hx893BayFiYFFILoWSfYN9njRg-xh4GK3KUagf-mYkyL1YStS~mMkmgv9hIfSZdjQedm8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-07-14T18:47:48Z","article","On July 11 the Senate passed House Bill 24-29 SD1, a bill to reconcile utility accounts between the Commonwealth Health Center Corporation (CHCC) and the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) by waiving intergovernmental penalties and preserving enforceable debt obligations. The Senate clerk announced the final passage tally as seven members voting yes and one voting no, with one senator absent.

Debate on the floor and in committee focused on equity concerns and the absence of formal comment from CUC in committee meetings. Senator Babauta opposed the measure on principle, saying the bill \"writes off millions of dollars in penalties owed by CHCC\" and warned that the change could create a precedent for special treatment of government entities while ordinary consumers face fees, disconnections and rising rates. Babauta and others asked whether CUC would absorb the waived amounts, whether the general fund would be tapped, or whether ratepayers would see higher bills as a result.

Supporters said the bill addresses long-standing, largely uncollectible government arrears and is intended to stabilize CHCC\u0000operations so the hospital can continue to provide services. Senator Magoffna clarified on the floor that the bill would waive penalties and fees, not principal balances, and argued the reconciliation would not necessarily impose new costs on residential ratepayers. Senator Hofschneider and others urged a broader, holistic approach to energy and utility-sector reform while noting the bill is one step toward stabilizing the hospital's finances.

Committee report language and floor remarks reflected a desire to consider broader, more equitable relief mechanisms for ratepayers and called for additional hearings with CUC and other stakeholders. The chair of the Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications moved the bill for passage; the Senate later took the vote and passed HB24-29 SD1.

Action: bill passed the Senate with a roll-call tally of 7 yes, 1 no, 1 absent. Several senators asked for future committee markup or complementary legislation to address fuel-adjustment charges and broad rate relief.

Ending: proponents said the measure is intended to help CHCC maintain operations and protect patient services; opponents asked for more transparency and an explanation of how waived penalties would be accounted for so that residential ratepayers are not unduly burdened.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","250714 24th NMCL Sen Session [1:30pm]","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate passed House Bill 24-29 SD1 on July 11, 2025, reconciling accounts between the Commonwealth Health Center Corporation and Commonwealth Utilities Corporation by waiving intragovernmental penalties and preserving enforceable debt obligations; final vote was 7-1 with one absence.","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},6655677,"Senate votes 6-2 to disapprove governor's order moving casino oversight to Lottery Commission",6320,3660000,9980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200&start=3660&end=9980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200/thumbnail_3660000.jpg","/articles/6655677/Senate-votes-6-2-to-disapprove-governors-order-moving-casino-oversight-to-Lottery-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655677-e38eeda9fe84d1550b412747ae65de3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774884355&Signature=GNH8NZbFymY7AXoeqX6DYqpd~9rCWXdMZSgiMiXsf8kdKqseqsHtLn7GoC~27rj~p~70heeZMhsU~OxtHmXAYRriHzJYGVIbbGAy5AEgUq2OTr9m0bL5CSIqtlXX1cESLY7FTQphy4slm-58SIN3tTQc5gkQpehZANtDvQTNtEOMA4jDKFSn0bxZOfT6RBt-AmV8tAOV0ma9BY6vhUxLjlE9i0qshkQItgoqCBKuketVXaRKn3sCQMFU~btMFbuG3hqmfaFBBHSXhdNKIkqqgObR0w8DeY3RhYCiyvYvt~Y6Wiav3LuvhyRFqMpy~Ww5uadkAuufbYVMYTNAdb9Vdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate on July 11 adopted Senate Resolution 24-06 to disapprove Executive Order 2025-002, a governor\u0000issued order that attempted to transfer supervisory authority over casino gaming from the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) to the Commonwealth Lottery Commission. The motion passed by voice/roll-call vote with six senators in favor and two opposed.

The resolution and the committee report that led to it focused on legal and policy problems with the executive order. The gaming committee\u0000chair, Senator Magoffna, told the full Senate the order \"not only transfers the duties and responsibilities of the casino commission to the lottery commission, but it terminated for cause the existing casino commission commissioners and replace[d] them with the lottery commission commissioners who do not qualify as commissioners under 4 CMC \u0000section 23-13.\" The committee said the EO conflicts with statutory language that bars CCC commissioners from being government employees and that it removes island representation for Rota and Tinian built into Public Law 18-56.

Several senators raised policy questions during the committee-of-the-whole discussion and in floor debate. Concerns included:
- Whether the lottery commission, whose members are cabinet officials, would have time or statutory authority to carry out CCC\u0000regulatory functions;
- Whether the EO provided for transfer of confidential investigative records, personnel, bank accounts, or other operational data from the CCC to the Lottery Commission;
- Potential conflicts of interest, chiefly because the attorney general\u0000office both represents the CCC in litigation and is listed as a lottery commissioner under existing statute; and
- The potential loss of statutory protections intended to preserve representation and revenue earmarked for specific senatorial districts and retirees.

Supporters of the EO argued it was a pragmatic response to the current absence of active casino operations and to long-running problems tied to the CCC\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000and stressed the need for \"sound fiscal prudence and accountability.\" Opponents said the order exceeded the governor's authority by altering statutory duties and creating de facto removals of commissioners without evidence of misconduct. Multiple senators urged a legislative solution as the proper way to make structural changes.

After debate, the Senate adopted Resolution 24-06, which formally disapproves Executive Order 2025-002 and directs that the concerns raised in the gaming committee report be addressed through legislation or stakeholder negotiations rather than by unilateral executive reorganization.

Votes at a glance: the motion to adopt Resolution 24-06 carried on final roll call with 6 votes in favor and 2 opposed; the Senate clerk announced the final result as \"6 members voting yes, 2 members voting no.\" The record as to individual roll-call entries in the transcript does not include a complete, unambiguous list of each senator\u0000by name for the final tally, so the article reports the certified tally rather than attributing named votes where the transcript record was unclear.

What\u0000happens next: the gaming committee report and the text of Resolution 24-06 were placed in the Senate record, and multiple senators invited the executive branch and affected stakeholders to the legislature for negotiated statutory amendments rather than implementing change by executive order.

Ending: The Senate action preserves the current statutory structure pending legislative action or a mutually negotiated plan among the executive branch, the CCC, the Lottery Commission and other stakeholders.","The Senate on July 11 adopted Senate Resolution 24-06 to disapprove Executive Order 2025-002, which would have transferred supervision of casino gaming from the Commonwealth Casino Commission to the Commonwealth Lottery Commission; the motion passed 6-2.",{"_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},6655663,"Votes at a glance: Senate passes a package of bills including drivers' licenses, vehicle-title transfers and scholarship-office rename",708,10112000,10820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200&start=10112&end=10820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200/thumbnail_10112000.jpg","/articles/6655663/Votes-at-a-glance-Senate-passes-a-package-of-bills-including-drivers-licenses-vehicle-title-transfers-and-scholarship-office-rename","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655663-88cce9d616ea2e878b15420b044c2e2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1774884355&Signature=RCzC8pOzOxMBCBqpvHNrq-Wh~E4xgUZbX32577d9WUng6wAPKvDsXKupsyo0XQh6vs-~lpy8p8Aq1cVff~dM0vucCFuTuVx3GBcONClBs5fitbM3hZGIqMm7LnHsYtannC-BF8khSWPfdaJw2izeEAmTZ1GCF6wUzbFUrgjmA7UPHBhuCv63u39PHCv5ODtHKh9T5jL9PR3R5BYhFoFQBpx9UGl3wMSRAPqgmBKqrhSqMBWxbDsj3pMhnf0eDYnBkPXKGaJW-DI~ZUMopuRFCRijwT9p-Nhf30KlPb9LT0OnvBjVBpW33zGkXpWk2Wka-Yj7lZOzojVTxVQZm7fK3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alongside the day's major debates and the passage of HB24-1 and HB24-29 SD1, the Senate passed several additional bills with limited floor debate on July 11, 2025. The following items were recorded as passed on the Senate floor that day:

- Senate Bill 24-08 (Amend provisions of the CNMI Recycling Act to place authority with the Department of Public Works): Passed, roll-call announced as 8 yes.
- Senate Bill 24-19 (amend 9 CMC \u0000section 22-08(d) to authorize motor vehicle licensure to all residents): Passed, roll-call announced as 8 yes. Supporters said the measure aims to improve road safety and increase licensing/registration compliance.
- Senate Bill 24-21 (require execution of notice of transfer and release of liability upon vehicle ownership transfer): Passed, roll-call announced as 8 yes. Committee members said DPS has the forms but the statute needed backing.
- House Bill 24-02 (establish a process for delivery of a State of the Commonwealth address by the governor): Passed, roll-call announced as 8 yes.
- House Bill 24-19 (rename CNMI Scholarship Office to CNMI Scholarship and Financial Assistance Office): Passed, roll-call announced as 8 yes.

Each of the above measures was recorded on the Senate floor with the clerk announcing unanimous or near-unanimous support. The record shows roll-call confirmations as noted above; transcripts for some votes record names and for others report the clerk\u0000announced totals.

Ending: These bills will be processed per regular legislative procedure for transmission to the governor or for any additional steps required under the CNMI legislative rules.","In addition to the major items reported separately, the Senate passed multiple bills on July 11, 2025 with largely unanimous support. Key measures included authorizing licensing to residents, a vehicle transfer notice requirement, and renaming the CNMI scholarship office. Vote tallies were recorded on the floor.",{"_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},6655672,"Senate passes House Bill 24-1 HS1 to update abuse and sexual-offense laws; prosecutors and advocates urge support",5504,497000,6001000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200&start=497&end=6001","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5381387-94e783897e259c9a3fd164b56afb3200/thumbnail_497000.jpg","/articles/6655672/Senate-passes-House-Bill-24-1-HS1-to-update-abuse-and-sexual-offense-laws-prosecutors-and-advocates-urge-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655672-227e499314d8f710b86c60745bdee765/orig.mp4?Expires=1774884355&Signature=JulUvm~jmQaWYBlmayodWFjpZrVO1yapYPfLVfAxkXThFvrL5wezOKRS1-a1Mxlldb1245zUVLPr0oqt41ZqfYxig0sQ2-aVVPF~Wf7G6elIaZdVnp5z1tKEPza0RRv-sYWf~5HIOJDphoYj5GaRiPONrEgqD2ZzEqHAsQcEV-LcnA2Rn6WZh5E0DOiDqm3wQXGvkWeao7RS9R1QNkOa4wOwzf6upFbq-iXwgxiDXabTR-Hp7o3pmpVkZ87VxawQXtM52~tREM74YjYOtv6jfJE~v8bd2a64y7R-iMv8euhU6~PwCStqqj~pv2sYhGI9zVOqp3KROGsKRVzwNESAMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate on July 11 passed House Bill 24-1 HS1, a measure that updates statutory provisions addressing sexual assault, abuse of minors, voyeurism, grooming and digital exploitation. The bill passed the Senate on a roll-call vote with eight members recorded in favor after the floor accepted a technical amendment to the bill title.

The measure drew extensive public comment and support from prosecutors, Division of Youth Services staff and anti-violence advocates during the Senate's public-comment period. Chester Hines, identified in the hearing as chief prosecutor at the Office of the Attorney General, described gaps in the current law that \"prevent[ ] us from charging\" conduct involving non-household adult relationships with minors under the existing statute and urged prompt passage. Hines and other prosecutors and advocates said the existing statute focused on authority-figure or household relationships and did not reflect modern contexts in which young people meet online.

Vivian T. Sablan, administrator for the Division of Youth Services, gave fiscal-year data on child-abuse and sexual-abuse reports across the Commonwealth and told senators that the bill includes additions such as grooming, voyeurism and digital exploitation, provisions she said were necessary to protect children in contemporary settings. Frannie Demopon, an assistant attorney general in the criminal division, said the proposed revisions would aid prosecutions that previously could not proceed because of narrow definitions or outdated age thresholds.

Advocates from the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence also urged passage. Kiki Uto Benjamin, identified as associate director and a survivor who testified on behalf of the coalition, and Macy B. Tenorio, executive director of the same coalition, said the bill reflects years of stakeholder collaboration and urged senators to adopt the measure.

The committee report adopted by the Senate recommended passage in current form. A senator noted a technical amendment to reference \"Title 6, Division 1, Chapter 3\" in the bill title; the amendment was accepted before final passage.

Action: the Senate clerk announced the final tally as eight members voting yes; the bill passed the Senate that day and will be transmitted per regular legislative procedures.

Ending: Senate leaders and advocates said they expect continued collaboration as the bill proceeds through the legislative process and encouraged coordination between law enforcement, DYS and community service providers for implementation.","After public testimony from prosecutors, youth services and victim advocates, the Senate passed House Bill 24-1 HS1 to modernize statutes on sexual abuse, voyeurism, grooming and digital exploitation; the bill passed the Senate unanimously (8-0) on July 11, 2025 with a technical amendment to the title.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves reconciliation bill waiving CHCC penalties to CUC; debate centers on fairness and fiscal impacts

Senate votes 6-2 to disapprove governor's order moving casino oversight to Lottery Commission

Votes at a glance: Senate passes a package of bills including drivers' licenses, vehicle-title transfers and scholarship-office rename

Senate passes House Bill 24-1 HS1 to update abuse and sexual-offense laws; prosecutors and advocates urge support