Dr. Jesse M. Tadella, chief operations officer for ancillary and support services at Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, told the House he supports House Bill 24-35 and House Bill 24-36 and asked legislators to move both measures forward rather than stall them in committee.

Tadella said HB 24-35 would expand access to naloxone by allowing prescriptions to be issued to persons other than the person at risk and by removing a requirement that a patient see a prescriber before receiving the medication. "These changes would increase the availability of naloxone through more affordable and flexible distribution channels," he said. He also described an element of the bill that would clarify that people who call for help during an overdose would not face arrest or other legal consequences, an effort he said would reduce hesitation to seek emergency assistance.

Tadella also spoke in favor of a provision extending civil‑liability protections to public school employees not licensed under the CNMI Nurse Practice Act who render emergency care, including administering an opioid overdose reversal medication during an officially designated school activity. "This protection is essential to ensure the school feel supported and protected when responding to the emergencies on campus," he said.

On HB 24-36, Tadella said establishing a prescription drug monitoring program would give clinicians access to up-to-date medication histories from any pharmacy in the CNMI, supporting safer prescribing and reducing dangerous drug interactions. He noted that "all 50 U.S. states and three out of five U.S. territories — Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — have already passed PDMP legislation" and said only the CNMI and American Samoa remained without such a program. He added that a PDMP could improve eligibility for federal grant programs that help fund implementation and long‑term operation.

Both bills were formally introduced on the House floor during the session. Representative Athal introduced HB 24-35 and HB 24-36 on behalf of Representative Malcolm Omar; the clerk recorded that both measures were referred to the committees on Health and Welfare and JGO for further consideration.

Tadella urged lawmakers not to delay: "I strongly urge our leaders... to pass House Bill number 24-36. This legislation is [a] necessary step toward modernizing our healthcare system," he said.

Background: HB 24-35 was described on the floor as an amendment to "certain provisions of the CNMI Good Samaritan Act, 7 CMC subsection 2801." HB 24-36 was described on the record as a measure to "establish a prescription drug monitoring program in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and for other purposes." No committee action or floor votes on either bill were recorded in this session; both were referred to committee.

Looking ahead: If the committees take up the bills, committee hearings would be the next step; no dates or committee hearings were set during this session.