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