By Emmanuel T. Erediano
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Variety News Staff
THE House of Representatives, during its session Friday, rejected the Senate versions of three spending measures and called for the creation of a bicameral conference committee to draft compromise versions acceptable to both chambers.
House Bills 24-89 and 24-91, as passed by the House on March 18, 2026, seek to appropriate $300,000 in dividends collected by the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to fund projects on Tinian and Rota.
H.B. 24-89 was authored by Rep. Patrick San Nicolas, while H.B. 24-91 was authored by Rep. Julie Marie Ogo.
The Senate, however, amended both measures on May 1, 2026, redirecting the funds toward Super Typhoon Sinlaku relief operations and personnel.
The House likewise rejected the Senate version of H.B. 24-96, which originally sought to appropriate $960,235 in tobacco settlement funds for the Marianas Visitors Authority. Under the Senate version, the funds would be allocated as follows:
1) $240,058 for the Public School System.
2) $100,000 for activities and programs on Rota.
3) $100,000 for personnel and operations of the Tinian Mayor’s Office.
4) $100,000 for personnel and operations of the Saipan Mayor’s Office.
5) $50,000 for the Legislative Bureau.
6) $370,176 for MVA.
The House unanimously voted to reject the Senate versions of the three bills. Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez appointed Rep. John Paul Sablan, Rep. Ralph N. Yumul and Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao as House conferees, with House Floor Leader Marissa Flores serving as alternate member of the committee.
In his remarks, Attao said the House’s rejection of the Senate amendments did not mean lawmakers opposed the changes made by the Senate. Rather, he said, the House wanted to include additional language to strengthen the measures and potentially allow the Commonwealth to reimburse the funds in the future.
“It’s not to change the intent, but to make sure — or at least allow — the funds to be reimbursed back to the CNMI so that we can use those funds for something else in the future,” Attao said.
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.
