Senate passes four bills including Captive Insurance Act and mandatory ID requirement for transactions

The Senate on April 25, 2025, passed four bills on its floor calendar. All four measures were recorded as passing with eight affirmative votes and no dissent.

Senate Bill 24-09, titled the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Captive Insurance Act of 2025, passed after the floor leader moved for its passage and the clerk recorded eight yes votes.

Senate Bill 24-22 establishes a mandatory presentation of a valid personal photo identification for any debit or credit card transaction made in person and for checks, cash exchanges or purchases at business establishments in the Commonwealth. Senator Francisco Cruz and other members spoke in support, citing fraud and identity-theft concerns and earlier incidents involving senior citizens. The clerk recorded eight votes in favor.

Senate Bill 24-18 SD1 amends 1 CMC section 2803 regarding the budget submission of the Department of Public Lands. The bill was moved by the floor leader and passed with eight affirmative votes recorded by the clerk.

Senate Bill 24-32 SD1 amends 2 CMC section 3551 to change expenditure authority, management and control of solid-waste subaccounts for the First and Second Senatorial Districts to the mayor of each municipality. Sponsors and supporters described the change as decentralizing authority to resident municipal officials to reduce administrative hurdles; Senator Mangonia and Senator Castro urged the change to help resident directors and mayors access funds more directly. The measure passed with eight yes votes.

All four bills were presented by the floor leader, and roll-call tallies recorded eight affirmative votes for each measure. The Senate took no recorded no votes or abstentions on these items during the floor session.