Saipan delegation hears public support for House Local Bill 24-3; floor amendment offered

Members of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation heard multiple public and agency testimonies urging support for House Local Bill 24-3, a local appropriations measure that would allocate Third Senatorial District revenues under Public Law 20-59 to cultural preservation, community events, animal welfare and shoreline repairs.

The Indigenous Affairs Office, Saipan Humane Society, Saipan Agricultural Fair Association and the Department of Lands and Natural Resources all told the delegation the bill’s funding would sustain cultural programming, food-security efforts and essential community services. "Events like these keep the spirit of ranching and farming alive in the CNMI," said Lauren Cabrera, Animal Health Manager at the Department of Lands and Natural Resources Division of Agriculture and founder of the Saipan Humane Society. "In a region that is geographically isolated with a vulnerable supply chain like ours, local food production is not just cultural, it's strategic."

The testimony outlined specific appropriations included in the bill. Natasha Tumakani, acting secretary of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, asked the delegation to pass the bill and highlighted funding for the Garapan revetment project, the Saipan Agricultural Fair and the Saipan Humane Society. "This revetment project is essential in preserving our shoreline, infrastructure, enhancing public safety, and supporting the livelihoods of our fishing community," Tumakani said. Rosemary Camacho, acting director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, also spoke in support of funding for the Saipan Humane Society, the agricultural fair and the Garapan revetment, noting the revetment’s federal award had been closed after a protracted completion process and the local funds would address outstanding obligations.

Public commenters described cultural and youth programming that would be supported by the Indigenous Affairs Office appropriation. One speaker said the IAO’s Cultural Emergence Summer Youth Camp will serve children ages 5 to 12 and provide instruction from traditional practitioners so "ancestral knowledge" is passed to the next generation. Several nonprofit representatives — including a spokesperson for Cultural Village Incorporated and Felix Nogis, executive assistant to the Carolinian Affairs Office — thanked the delegation for prior support and asked that the proposed appropriations be sustained.

On procedure, the floor leader officially introduced House Local Bill 24-3 and, separately, House Local Bill 24-6 (to appropriate a remaining fund balance of $50,411 under Saipan Local Law 21-10, project code 7192H, for parks and secondary road base course in Precinct 4). The delegation moved to place both local bills on the bill calendar; that motion was seconded and adopted. The delegation also voted to suspend certain rules to consider bills on the same day.

During consideration of House Local Bill 24-3, the floor leader moved for passage; the motion was seconded and discussion followed. The floor leader then offered a floor amendment proposing several changes to specific line items: replace a $5,000 allocation for "MCS moot court" with $5,000 for Tasi to Table Inc. for the second annual Cinema Real Heroes International Fishing Derby; change the expenditure authority for a $25,000 allocation to the Saipan Agricultural Fair Association so authority rests with the resident executive of the Indigenous Affairs Office (or designee); and other line-item edits. The transcript records the amendment text being read aloud but does not include a final roll-call vote on the amended bill.

Speakers repeatedly linked the requested appropriations to community resilience. Cabrera noted the Saipan Humane Society operates the only low-cost pet clinic in the CNMI and said the clinic served "over 10,000 pets in the last 2 years at just a fraction of the cost" compared with mainland care. Testimony in favor of scholarship funding also noted the CNMI scholarship program and the reinstated WICHE benefit for professional students; one speaker said the WICHE-linked scholarship required an eight-year service commitment in exchange for in-state tuition rates.

The delegation’s discussion included a brief procedural remark from a representative who questioned the timing for raising a floor amendment; leadership directed that floor amendments be considered on the bill calendar. The record shows motions to place the bills on the calendar and to suspend rules were adopted; the motion to pass House Local Bill 24-3 was moved and seconded and a floor amendment was offered. The transcript excerpt does not record the final disposition (passage or defeat) of the bill after amendment.

Votes at a glance from the recorded excerpt • Motion to place House Local Bill 24-3 and House Local Bill 24-6 on the bill calendar: motion adopted (no roll-call tally in excerpt). • Motion to suspend rules (Rule 7 §8; Rule 9 §§9–10): motion adopted (no roll-call tally in excerpt). • Motion to pass House Local Bill 24-3: moved and seconded; floor amendment offered; final vote not recorded in excerpt.

Reported clarifying details • Carolinian Advisory Council: $45,000 requested in the bill (as stated in testimony). • CNMI scholarship program: $50,000 requested in the bill (as stated in testimony). • House Local Bill 24-6: requests appropriation of remaining fund balance $50,411 under Saipan Local Law 21-10, project code 7192H for parks and base course for secondary roads in Precinct 4. • Garapan Revetment Project: originally started in 2020; speakers said the federal award closed after protracted completion and local funds would address outstanding obligations. • Saipan Humane Society: testified to providing over 10,000 pet visits in two years at reduced cost; speakers said the organization operates the only low-cost pet clinic in the CNMI.

What’s next The delegation placed both bills on the bill calendar and suspended rules to allow same-day consideration. Because the transcript excerpt ends with a floor amendment being offered and does not record the final vote on the amended bill, the bill’s final status should be confirmed in the delegation’s subsequent minutes or an official recorded roll call.