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Legislature opens public hearing on proposed Marianas Resort lease; no public comments
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Summary
A joint committee hearing accepted public comment on a proposed lease for the Marianas Resort and Spa between DPL and Elan but recorded no speakers; a follow-up session with DPL is set for next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the House Chamber.
Senator Karina El Magovna, chairwoman of the Senate Standing Committee on Resources, Economic Development, and Workforce, opened a public hearing to receive community comments on a proposed lease for the Marianas Resort and Spa between the Department of Public Lands (DPL) and Elan.
"The purpose of today's public hearing is to accept comments from members of the community with regards to the proposed lease for Maranas Resort and Spa from Elan," El Magovna said, adding that no question-and-answer would be held at this session and that a separate meeting with DPL would be scheduled.
The committee noted that DPL submitted a packet in February 2025 that included a final draft lease agreement between DPL and Elan, Elan's proposal, the request-for-proposal instruction packet and notice, and documents related to the evaluation and award. The committee did not take questions or debate the lease at the hearing.
Chairman Angelo Camacho, who chaired the House Standing Committee on Natural Resources for the session, announced that the joint committees will hold a follow-up public hearing with DPL next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the House Chamber to allow members to ask questions and receive further information.
The public-comment portion of the agenda produced no in-person speakers: "let the record reflect that we have no members from the community here tonight to provide public comments with regards to the Marianas resort lease," El Magovna said. Committee members invited written testimony from people who could not attend in person and provided options to deliver testimony to legislative clerks or by email prior to the next hearing.
Representative Benavente suggested additional outreach to village levels to increase community participation, saying it might help gather more input and clarity for residents near the proposed lease site. "Maybe we should reach out on the village level so we can more or less get more effort from input and more input from the community," Benavente said; the committee said it would discuss the suggestion at a subsequent full meeting.
The committee adopted the day's agenda and later adjourned by voice vote. No formal action was taken on the lease itself during the hearing.
