By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
SENATE Bill 24-49, which proposes to limit the use of lawmakers’ monthly subsistence allowance, tops the agenda of the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting next week.
Authored by Sen. Celina R. Babauta, the bill seeks to: define legislators’ “reasonable allowance” to ensure it covers only legitimate expenses for legislative duties; establish a clear statutory monthly cap to prevent excessive or arbitrary spending; prohibit retroactive application of the allowance; strengthen reporting to ensure accountability; and reaffirm that allowances are intended solely for necessary expenses, not as a substitute for salary.
Introduced on Oct. 3, 2025, and referred to the Fiscal Affairs Committee on Dec. 16, 2025, S.B. 24-49 defines “reasonable allowance” as “reimbursements or fixed stipends provided to legislators to cover necessary expenses directly related to the execution of official legislative duties, including but not limited to office supplies and equipment, communication and correspondence, official travel within the CNMI, district office expenses, constituent services and outreach, and sponsorships or support for community-based activities such as sports, cultural events, or educational programs.”
The measure sets the following conditions for eligible activities:
• The activity is conducted by a bona fide non-profit or community-based organization with recognized tax-exempt status under Commonwealth or federal law.
• The appropriation serves a public purpose, as defined in Article X, Section 10 of the NMI Constitution, meaning the benefit is equally available to the community at large and not limited to private gain.
• No funds may be used for general operations, salaries, administrative overhead, or capital improvements of non-profit organizations unless such expenditures are expressly tied to a program that provides a public benefit to the community.
• No legislator or member of their immediate family may serve as an officer, board member, employee, contractor, or financial supporter of the recipient organization.
• Recipient nonprofits shall not make political contributions, endorsements, or provide financial support to any legislator.
• Nonprofits must submit receipts and a report to the Department of Finance within 30 days of receiving funds, documenting that the funds were spent for the approved public purpose.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
