The Senate passed H.B. 16-123 on Friday and the bill is now with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
The bill will grant the exemption to large hotels and golf resorts.
Under the current law, any person convicted of selling, buying or consuming alcohol on Election Day faces a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment for up to 100 days, or both.
But Santos said international tourists, who fuel the islands’ tourism-based economy, should not be penalized for something that they are not aware of.
“This is an industry that the CNMI has been largely dependent on for its economic growth for the past 30 years. Thus, our tourists’ visit within the CNMI should not be hampered in any way. Tourists visiting the commonwealth on Election Day are restricted from purchasing alcoholic beverages for their consumption though they are not involved with local political affairs,” states Santos in her bill.
H.B. 16-123 exempts “hotels or hotel resorts with 250 or more guest rooms, or golf course resorts” from the Election Day alcohol ban.
