House passes local bill to appropriate $2 million from CEDA dividends for Third District development, retiree and vendor payments

The House passed House Local Bill 24-21 on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, to appropriate $2,000,000 of dividends collected by the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority (CEDA) from the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) to assist the Department of Finance and CEDA with funding related to the Third Senatorial District. The bill passed under a substitute version by a recorded vote of 15 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain and 4 absent.

Supporters said the measure addresses immediate funding shortfalls including payments to retirees and vendors and establishes a dedicated appropriation for CEDA operations. Derek Sasamoto, executive director of the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority, used the public-comment period to back the bill, saying, "the Marianas is in dire need of revenue" and thanking legislators for the balance in the substitute that "appropriates the additional $1,000,000 to CEDA to allow us to use that only for economic development."

The legislation as substituted specifies that the funds originated from covenant section 702 funds and "shall be…