House introduces a slate of bills, suspends filing rule and places ports finance bill on calendar

The House opened its fourth day, first regular session and introduced a package of bills on government finance, labor relations, child welfare and local appropriations while approving procedural motions to add unnumbered items to the agenda and to place a ports authority finance bill on the calendar.

Floor leader moved to suspend the House’s advance-filing requirement “pursuant to rule 10, section 5 F” and “suspend rule 3, section 6 for the purpose of amending our posted agenda to add unnumbered bills and resolutions,” a motion the clerk recorded as carrying when all 17 members present voted yes. After introductions, the floor leader formally introduced House Bill 24-14 “to establish the Office of Financial Integrity and Compliance, OFIC, and the OFIC Oversight Committee to improve the CNMI government's financial management and reporting.”

The House introduced several additional measures and referred them to committees: House Bill 24-15—on public-sector employee relations and organized labor—was referred to the committee on JGO; House Bill 24-16—on prioritizing kinship placement for children in protective custody and accelerating related judicial review—was referred to JGO and Health and Welfare; and House Bill 24-17—an amendment to 2 CMC §21-74 to give the Commonwealth Ports Authority greater autonomy in managing its finances—was referred to JGO and Ways and Means.

During the introductions, Representative John Paul Sablan offered an unnumbered bill to earmark $200,000 of electronic gaming license fees for the Department of Finance for enforcement purposes; the clerk said referral for that measure will be made later. The House also introduced several local bills: a local appropriation bill for the Third Senatorial District; House Local Bill 24-4 to appropriate $35,000 for specified Rota activities and $731 for fuel and lubrication for the Rota Department of Lands and Natural Resources; House Local Bill 24-5 to amend local zoning/stipend law to define automobile sales and services and establish screening requirements where those businesses abut certain zoning districts; and House Local Bill 24-6 to appropriate a remaining fund balance of $50,411 for Commonwealth parks, recreational facilities maintenance and base course for secondary roadways in Precinct 4.

The House also introduced an unnumbered House resolution honoring the life and legacy of the late Oscar Manglonia Babauta; the resolution was reported by the committee of the whole and placed on the resolution calendar but cannot be acted on until it meets the chamber’s 72-hour posting requirement.

Separately, the floor leader moved to suspend rule 9, section 8 so House Bill 24-17 could be placed on the calendar; that motion was seconded and approved by voice vote (“the ayes have it”). The House accepted Senate Communication 24-10 by motion and voice vote, and later adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

The session included floor remarks by the floor leader about the upcoming 49th Covenant observance and the scholarship office and Department of Education funding concerns; Representative Roman Beneventi raised reservations about including the public school system in the proposed collective-bargaining legislation (House Bill 24-15) and said he would seek a floor amendment removing public schools from the bill.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to suspend rule 3, section 6 (add unnumbered bills/resolutions): moved by Floor leader; roll-call recorded as 17 yes, motion carries. - Motion to suspend rule 9, section 8 (place House Bill 24-17 on calendar): moved by Floor leader; seconded; voice vote (“ayes have it”), motion carries. - Acceptance of Senate Communication 24-10: moved by Floor leader; seconded; voice vote, motion carries. - Motion to adjourn subject to the call of the chair: moved by Floor leader; seconded; voice vote, motion carries.

What’s next

Most introduced measures were referred to committee and will return for committee consideration and calendar scheduling. The committee referral and the House’s 72-hour posting requirement will determine when the chamber can act on the unnumbered resolution honoring the late Oscar Manglonia Babauta and on any bills added under the suspended filing rule.