Members of the CNMI legislature described a recently passed law that modernizes criminal definitions related to abuse and exploitation of minors.

Senate President Carl Neighbors credited Representative Marissa Flores with sponsoring a bill reworking antiquated language in child-abuse statutes. "We needed to redefine some of the language because it was antiquated. It also didn't have any language regarding voyeurism, so, like, recordings... Revenge [recordings], for example, that's part of the legislation," Neighbors said, describing how cellphone recording technologies require statutory updates.

According to panelists, the measure was developed in consultation with the attorney general's office, prosecutors and stakeholders in education and child welfare, and was intended to close gaps in existing law that previously did not contemplate modern recording or voyeuristic behavior. The speakers said this work took several years to complete and emphasized stakeholder outreach and consensus-building.

What the transcript does not specify: legislators described the content and significance but did not provide a finalized bill number in this session; one speaker referred to it as a public law passed months earlier. The article therefore describes the law's content and sponsorship but lists the bill number as "not specified" where the transcript is silent.

Next steps and enforcement: speakers urged constituents to review the law to understand rights and protections and noted that enforcement depends on agencies and prosecutorial resources. Senator Manny Castro and others urged public attention to enforcement gaps; there were no new enforcement directives recorded during this Q&A.

The panel closed this topic by urging continued public engagement and education on statutory protections for minors.