House suspends rules to add late-filed items, unanimously passes $50,000 reappropriation for Rota mayor; adopts resolution honoring Noboru Hirayama

The House of Representatives convened a second regular session and, by unanimous votes, suspended multiple procedural rules to add late-filed items to the day’s calendar, adopted House Resolution 24-15 honoring Noboru Hirayama, and passed House Bill 24-45 SD1 to reappropriate $50,000 for operational expenses of the office of the mayor of Rota and the Rota patient subsistence allowance.

The procedural changes began when the floor leader moved “to suspend rule 3 section 6 so that the house amends its agenda to include a number bills and resolutions and communications not filed with the house clerk's office 72 hours in advance,” a motion the House approved with all 17 members voting yes. The clerk announced early in the session that “17 members are present and 3 members are absent,” establishing a quorum for action.

Why it matters: the suspension of the 72-hour filing rule allowed several measures that had not met the usual filing deadline to appear on today’s calendar. Among those were introductions of bills and a local measure with potential budgetary and economic impacts, and a nomination that will require committee action within a statutorily defined window.

Most significant actions and details

- Passage of House Bill 24-45 SD1: The House passed, on first and final reading, House Bill 24-45 SD1 to reappropriate $50,000 under Public Law 21-10, Section 2(g), for operational expenses of the office of the mayor of the municipality of Rota and for the Rota patient subsistence allowance. The floor leader moved for passage; the motion was seconded; and the clerk called a roll. The clerk later stated, “With all 17 members present voting yes, House Bill 24-45 SD1 hereby passes the house.” No amendments to the bill were recorded on the floor.

- Adoption of House Resolution 24-15: The body unanimously adopted House Resolution 24-15 to honor Noboru Hirayama for his contributions to the preservation and promotion of Japanese and Saipan history, specifically citing his work on the reconstruction of the Saipan Katori Scribe. The floor leader moved adoption and the motion carried by voice vote.

- Introductions and calendar placement

- House Bill 24-68 was introduced by Representative John Paul Sablan. The measure, titled to “conditionally authorize the Marianas Public Land Trust to establish a margin account solely to facilitate the $29,000,000 loan authorized under Public Law 24-13, subject to the continuing fiduciary and constitutional duties of the trustees,” was introduced and—after a separate motion by the floor leader to suspend Rule 9 Section 8—was placed on today’s bill calendar. Representative Sablan asked that the House not take final action on the measure immediately because a scheduled meeting with the Marianas Public Land Trust is set for Monday at 10:00 a.m. in the House chamber; the request was noted on the record.

- House Bill 24-69 was introduced to amend Title 70, Subchapter 70-30.3 of the Northern Mariana Islands Administrative Code by adding a new section to authorize indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts. The bill was introduced by the floor leader and referred to the Committees on Commerce and JGO.

- House Local Bill 24-34 was introduced by Representative Angelo Camacho to establish the Saipan Economic Incentive Zone in the Third Senatorial District and to authorize the Commonwealth Economic Incentive Authority and other agencies to administer and regulate investment activities within the zone. The bill was noted as pre-filed by Representative Camacho and others.

- Governor’s communication and nomination: The clerk reported messages from the governor, including a nomination of James Mendiola Jr. to serve as a member of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation/PUC (as described in the governor’s communications). The speaker referred that nomination to the Committees on JGO and on Transportation and Infrastructure and reminded committee chairs there is a 90-day window for action.

Procedural motions and consensus

Multiple procedural suspensions were moved by the floor leader and approved unanimously: the initial suspension of Rule 3 Section 6 to add late-filed items; a suspension of Rule 9 Section 8 to place House Bill 24-68 on the bill calendar; and suspensions of additional rules (Rule 7 Section 9 and Rule 9 Sections 9 and 10) to allow consideration of items on the bill calendar and to proceed with first-and-final reading on select bills.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to suspend Rule 3 Section 6 (amend agenda to include late-filed items): Yes 17, No 0 — motion carries.

- Motion to suspend Rule 9 Section 8 (place HB 24-68 on bill calendar): Yes 17, No 0 — motion carries.

- Passage of House Bill 24-45 SD1 (reappropriate $50,000 under PL 21-10 §2(g) for Rota mayor operational expenses and patient subsistence allowance): Yes 17, No 0 — bill passes the House on first and final reading.

- Adoption of House Resolution 24-15 (honor Noboru Hirayama): adopted by voice vote (recorded as unanimous on the floor).

Next steps and scheduling

House bills that were placed on the calendar but not acted on (including House Bills 24-33 and 24-68) remain on the House bill calendar pending scheduled meetings; Representative John Paul Sablan and the chair of education, Representative Roman Beneventi, noted pending meetings. The governor’s nomination to the PUC has been referred to standing committees and must be addressed within the 90-day referral window.

Attendance and quorum

The clerk recorded 17 members present and 3 members excused (Manglonia, San Nicolas, and Ogo). The clerk’s roll calls were used to record unanimous votes on the motions and the passage of HB 24-45 SD1.

The House recessed briefly during miscellaneous business and returned for announcements about the upcoming Association of Pacific Island Legislatures meetings scheduled later in October. The session adjourned subject to the call of the chair.