Introduced by Rep. Eliceo Cabrera, House Bill 17-40 proposes to increase annual business license fees. It now goes to the Senate.
Cabrera, R-Saipan said the measure will generate $3 million a year.
The bill did not explain why a fee hike should be imposed on businesses that are already struggling in this economy.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce earlier said that the measure would increase business license fees by 100 to 5,900 percent.
The proposed annual fees for the banks will be $1,000; dental, optical and medical clinics, $300; finance companies, $500; freight and trucking services, $200; gas stations, $200; hotels or motels, $500; insurance adjusters, $150; insurance agents, $200; insurance broker, $300; insurance company, $600; manufacturers $2,000; offshore banking $2,000; pawnshops, $300; remittance or money transfer, $300; scuba diving instruction $200; scuba diving tour operation, $200; securities dealers, $600; telecommunications or broadcasting $1,000; wholesalers, $300; and roadside vendors $100.
Fifteen of the 17 lawmakers present yesterday voted in favor of the bill’s passage.
Reps Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan, Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota, and Trenton B. Conner, R-Tinian, abstained while Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan, voted no.
Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan, was absent.
