Tinian delegation approves bill letting casino regulator use abandoned investigative deposits

The Tinian legislative delegation voted unanimously on July 1, 2026, to pass Senate Local Bill 24‑04, a measure authorizing the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission to define procedures and use abandoned investigative deposits to satisfy outstanding regulatory fees, assessments, penalties and taxes.

Senate President Carl King Neighbors, serving as acting floor leader, introduced the bill on the delegation floor and said the measure would “define and authorize the use of abandoned investigative deposits held by the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission to establish procedures, notice, claims, and final disposition of such deposits” and to authorize appropriation of those deposits for regulatory obligations. The bill was introduced by Chairman H. Schneider, Senator Cruz and Senator King Neighbors.

The delegation first voted to suspend permanent rules so the measure could be placed on today’s bill calendar; the motion to suspend the rules was approved by the three members present. On the bill calendar the floor leader moved for passage. The clerk recorded three "yes" votes (Senator Cruz; Senate President Carl King Neighbors; Chairman H. Schneider); no 'no' votes, abstentions or recusals were recorded. With three members voting yes the delegation recorded the bill as passed.

The bill text, as read on the floor, specifies (1) procedures for notice and claims regarding abandoned investigative deposits held by the commission and (2) authorization to appropriate remaining deposits to pay outstanding regulatory fees, assessments, penalties and taxes owed to the commission. The session record does not provide the text of those procedures beyond the bill summary read into the record.

The delegation took no further amendatory action on the measure at this session. Next procedural steps (enactment, implementation schedule, or effective date) were not specified on the record at this meeting.