By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously passed House Bill 24-70, allowing the Public School System to utilize $4.9 million of its unrestricted funds for fiscal year 2026.
Unrestricted funds, according to the 2022 single audit of PSS, are part of the fund balance classified “based on the extent to which a government is bound to follow constraints on how resources can be spent….”
All House members present voted to pass H.B. 24-70, authored by Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao, vice chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Rep. Elias Rangamar was excused, while Rep. Julie Ogo attended the session via video conference from Rota.
In a statement after the bill’s passage, Attao said the unrestricted funds would help close the $17,506,551 gap between PSS’s fiscal year 2026 budget request of $49,285,559 and its appropriation of $31,779,008 under Public Law 24-14.
“Our schools should never have to choose between payroll and textbooks. This bill gives PSS the ability to use its own funds now — to keep classrooms open, teachers supported, and students learning. I appreciate my colleagues for acting swiftly to get this passed,” Attao said.
Prior to the roll call vote, Attao thanked colleagues for co-sponsoring H.B. 24-70. He noted that he had to interrupt Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez during last week’s Association of Pacific Island Legislature General Assembly to ensure all signatures were secured.
$1M for NAP
Before adjourning, Speaker Villagomez announced an emergency session for Friday, Nov. 7, to address H.B. 24-74, introduced by Attao, to appropriate $1 million from Marianas Public Land Trust interest income to sustain full Nutrition Assistance Program allotments for November 2025.
After introducing the bill, Attao requested that it be placed on the calendar but not acted on Thursday. House Floor Leader Marissa Flores then moved to suspend House rules and place H.B. 24-74 on the calendar. The motion was unanimously approved.
Attao said the U.S. Department of Agriculture had advised that, due to the federal shutdown, only half of the normal NAP allotments would be issued for the month.
“This bill is not perfect — it only addresses November — but it ensures that no family will go hungry because of political gridlock,” he said.
“Washington can shut down. Our people cannot stop eating. If the federal government cannot fulfill its commitment, the Commonwealth will,” he added.
As vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Attao emphasized:
“Leadership means action. When the federal government falters or our own budgets fall short, the entire Commonwealth must work together. We cannot allow bureaucracy to become an excuse for inaction. These bills are about standing up — for families, for teachers, and for the next generation of the CNMI.”
With a 19-1 vote, the House also passed an amended version of H.B. 24-68, conditionally authorizing the Marianas Public Land Trust to establish a margin account solely to facilitate the $29 million loan allowed by Public Law 24-13, subject to the continuing fiduciary and constitutional duties of MPLT. Rep. Vincent “Kobre” Aldan cast the lone dissenting vote.
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.