[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6330980,"mediaKeyId","2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d","parentId",2313247,"title","Votes at a glance: Senate adopts revenue resolution, journal and joint resolution supporting port-air service exemption","audioSeconds",2277,"startMs",1780000,"endMs",4057000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d&start=1780&end=4057","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d/thumbnail_1780000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6330980/Votes-at-a-glance-Senate-adopts-revenue-resolution-journal-and-joint-resolution-supporting-port-air-service-exemption","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330980-70c5ee3ba902e512cd97ed3cb7a2e6c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984989&Signature=S7eIwNfjJ-5zV5Eag1L-pbwtm1-9HyTmHccb2gMMxiZMqA712tK~1daYhrp0k~vE9p5XxG0dyYNrBBtqX7tY-0-14VubxQI5WyKk7npBhcHUtqioTjPAo~IWnzOdz6ginbeHrKYT6dZ~dpFOidOTIVssMM4KuzOeQ5ueEHkijg6wDgUhlLCdVaSzIB-0UGR2umYXsdeCV2iZbVdC9GtYY1aqCQ1qf4a26gVwqxI4c4zAx6ebpchE16aLdU0FgjwdsVF6xIaJ26I5VBOo4pIWPAwAaKI-j4D3rbdzo08f~S4GZvGW-iMaOutzbZY4-ToQOIq5lEg-C2RHgxtloHzwBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate recorded several formal actions on Feb. 14, in addition to nominations and bill placements.

• Senate Journal 24-01: The Senate moved to adopt the Senate Journal for the organizational session (dated Jan. 13, 2025). The motion carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

• House Concurrent Resolution 24-1: The Senate adopted House Concurrent Resolution 24-1, which approves revenues and resources of the Commonwealth as identified under Article 3, Section 9(a) of the Constitution and 1 CMC Division 7 for fiscal year 2025 (Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025). The clerk recorded eight members voting yes; the resolution passed the Senate.

• Senate Joint Resolution 24-01: The Senate adopted a joint resolution supporting the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s request for an exemption from federal limitations on scheduled Chinese air service and supporting reinstatement of Annex 6 under the U.S.-China Air Transport Agreement (Feb. 2007). The clerk recorded all eight members present voting yes and the joint resolution passed.

Each of these items was moved and seconded on the floor and then adopted. The actions were procedural steps necessary to the Senate’s calendar and policy positions and were recorded in the formal journal.

(Separate articles cover the confirmation of Bartley A. Jackson and the Senate’s passage of House Bill 24-6, HD1.)","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Feb 14, 2025 24th Sen Session 1:00 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate adopted its journal and several resolutions on Feb. 14, including a revenue-resolution for FY2025 and a joint resolution backing the Commonwealth Ports Authority on Chinese air service.","taxTitle","Senate, Northern Mariana Legislative Sessions, Northern Mariana Islands","taxId",20282,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6330984,"Senate passes amended FY2025 budget bill restoring employee hours; one senator objects over process and casino payments",1211,4143000,5354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d&start=4143&end=5354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d/thumbnail_4143000.jpg","/articles/6330984/Senate-passes-amended-FY2025-budget-bill-restoring-employee-hours-one-senator-objects-over-process-and-casino-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330984-177bb8c7deae5a580374b5f6e526c456/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984989&Signature=M0ok3bQe5tP2vqpu1fGRL4FWt6tWewlU4bVCchOQXp6fgk3gLJfdmQ9HkpaImm8HTPvfhNFBgyalZAbJSGmN-JYQCfLmOx340wMQBXB-t5qwbGhlVmk--hG8yl9lyylNTqtMmzIGy6haWfjUvozwaPkvNyMu9RNzjyQCuNln~~ZXcUvhQKDGsizWATCf2E5od7qN6r-3fMarnZUAfQt9gnNSxiTT6WHq~ksf2GmH0Kf~ziIMqA-jmBBb3u7f0A-~gTwNXLp2jVS9OWlwNx3GD2gsvHTH3oMIDhfabE8hu3DhtfzVDdM9CD0Hnr9sddTXSJbcfxHyJb4GzOOc-5GNPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate approved an amended fiscal-year 2025 appropriation measure on Feb. 14, passing House Bill 24-6, HD1, which amends Public Law 23-26 to allocate funds including restoring government employees’ work hours and appropriating a balance for a settlement fund.

Floor leader moved for passage and the motion was seconded. The Senate then debated the bill. Senators and members raised procedural and substantive questions about specific allocations. Senator Magofna asked whether it was legal to include an $1.8 million allocation of SNILD funding in the amended budget without a separate appropriation session; the transcript shows the legal counsel described the language as an amendment authorizing the use of general funds to pay certain casino commission expenses and said members should answer whether to approve the proposal.

Senator Babauta voiced strong opposition to the process used to bring the bill to final reading without committee vetting and objected specifically to line items that would pay back pay to former casino commissioners and to the absence of the constitutionally required 25% allocation for public schools. She said her no vote represented opposition to those inclusions and urged the governor to consider a line-item veto on the casino-commission payments.

Roll call produced seven yes votes, one no, and one absent; the clerk recorded the result as passage. During floor discussion, members identified totals and schedule items related to payments to former and current casino commissioners; the transcript records schedule B amounts and names of six commissioners listed for payment under the appropriation.

Supporters said the bill was necessary to restore employees’ hours (the record references reinstating 80 hours and addressing pensioner adjustments) and to finalize fiscal-year obligations. After the vote, the Senate declared House Bill 24-6, HD1 passed.

The transcript records follow-up concerns from senators about transparency, allocation priorities, and whether certain expenditures represent permissible uses of central-government funds. Those issues were raised on the floor and remain part of the public record of the bill’s passage.","The Senate passed House Bill 24-6, HD1 (an amendment to the FY2025 Appropriations and Budget Authority Act) by roll call: 7 yes, 1 no, 1 absent. Dissent centered on alleged procedural irregularities and inclusion of funds for former casino commissioners' back pay.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6330990,"Business leaders back Magofna bills to attract investment; Senate places trade and investment bills on calendar",2676,1114000,3790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d&start=1114&end=3790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d/thumbnail_1114000.jpg","/articles/6330990/Business-leaders-back-Magofna-bills-to-attract-investment-Senate-places-trade-and-investment-bills-on-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330990-9806e0fc7bdd2f052143c2ce494483e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984989&Signature=dfiIKOuwMhz2xxFTItxsWaY~WEwn6N3w~BiAAgnOMxpRTUfjcoCYKu6wiZ3pUxVeNEC~KzLSVFq89Y4Jdl6cCVWgdHyejsqrLqLLdYG7tF4Hp8pM9LDyph6CrbTEzthQbyZ7EU4nVOWZ2p286FTIfPuykvCKzmC85vEo2ImOg5XZePe9QJA02HlUClVKCEsQwTCdiFaS8J4K1q8GB1IekFXBAjt-UvB3eix23l3N~NCO5IH-IdZMgYZmpxAb921~GnM9Y8bINSDUU06ITyszcAgCxWqS8D0Ta9~aI6jjglE4E7237b2Um-zCwfLZt7Cy4yLL8SY~HQPtRu999IRXFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Business representatives told the Senate on Feb. 14 that three bills introduced by Senator Karina Magofna could help attract U.S. companies and diversify the Commonwealth economy.

Vin Armani, founder of Badger LLC and president of the Trade Council of the Marianas, told senators he supports SB24-15, SB24-16 and SB24-17 and asked the Senate to bring them to the floor rather than send them to committee so they can be voted on quickly. Joshua Cook, vice president of the Trade Council, also spoke in support, saying minor statutory and regulatory changes in the bills would remove “crucial bottlenecks” and help businesses establish operations in the CNMI.

Senator Magofna formally introduced the package during the bill-introduction portion of the session. The Senate later adopted motions to place SB24-15, SB24-16 and SB24-17 on the bill calendar. On the floor, the motions to place those bills were made and seconded; the Senate placed SB24-15 and SB24-16 on the calendar \"not for action.\" SB24-17 was also placed on the calendar; the record shows it was ultimately placed as \"not for action.\" The floor-level record indicates the Senate did not vote on the bills themselves that day.

Supporters said the bills are narrowly targeted: SB24-15 addresses incorporation filing numbers and public searchability; SB24-16 aims to promote trade and investment by creating exemptions and incentives for certain activities; and SB24-17 would rename the Commonwealth Free Trade Zone Authority to better attract knowledge- and technology-based businesses. In public comments, Vin Armani and Joshua Cook said the changes would make it easier for businesses to open bank accounts, qualify for incentives, and base operations in the CNMI, bringing jobs and tax revenue.

Senator Magofna asked that some bills be placed for immediate floor action; the motions ultimately on the record show the bills were placed on the calendar with the status \"not for action,\" per floor motions. The session transcript records no legislative debate on the merits of the bills that resulted in an immediate floor vote on Feb. 14.","Entrepreneurs urged quick floor action on bills from Senator Karina Magofna to promote trade and investment (SB24-15, SB24-16, SB24-17). The Senate placed those bills on the day's bill calendar; the motions recorded the placement as \"not for action.\"",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6330995,"Senate unanimously confirms Bartley A. Jackson to Commonwealth Ports Authority board",377,1833000,2210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d&start=1833&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313247-71675b1a643a2154b7689661a788ef7d/thumbnail_1833000.jpg","/articles/6330995/Senate-unanimously-confirms-Bartley-A-Jackson-to-Commonwealth-Ports-Authority-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330995-1dd2714741c83f8d8ff71c562460d676/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984989&Signature=H0UjAME~NEHbMu9FZDoTv2R75DPhRDBq7XKzOpBKaVldltoMGPKDrqctAp-f1D3YaeBi3L0Rh8aYwFhy3wWa-zoibxcmEuMi06fcV674KK63wOqNJ1WTgnMuqtsjctngfz7FXa8Z7g8PVNfpcTIvWtSm3jlwbnmHLwdHUXGIILv0n2ZudWqzA1pmdmTdfapTkwByVJWacDjNvrp9LI7fOeb7Mhiz5f7MYCAw-ZgyhK~~BJ1Wfos9Vx6sRh5H2iojl4YwPKqC6riL~dX51Hxm~2mSzRioZ08l2uAgWed1SDnuJAQBn0qjxx7XJF2VD0hP2PwQOkms0HpbsP4XHzELdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate on Feb. 14 confirmed Bartley A. Jackson to serve as a member of the Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors representing the Third Senatorial District.

The Senate floor leader moved to adopt Standing Committee Report 24-01, and the Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations recommended confirmation after reviewing written and oral testimony. Committee chairman Senator Francisco Q. Cruz told the full Senate the committee “examined all pertinent documents” and, based on credentials, drug and criminal records, and a statement of financial disclosure, recommended confirmation.

Senator Babauta asked that future committee reports include the nominee’s resume and the required financial disclosure for the record. The legal counsel confirmed that the committee had received required documents. The Senate then took a roll-call vote; all eight members present voted yes and the report was adopted. The committee said the appointment, made in accordance with “2 CMC subsection 21 23” in the transcript, will fill the remainder of an unexpired term vacated by Osei Azuzu that expires Oct. 7, 2027.

The nomination was announced confirmed after the vote and Bartley A. Jackson was congratulated on the floor.

The confirmation followed a public hearing on Feb. 6, 2025, during which the committee received written and oral testimony in support and no testimony in opposition, according to the committee report.

The record shows the committee requested that Jackson, if confirmed, address certain issues identified in the hearing and included recommendations in its report. The committee’s recommendation and the roll-call vote conclude the Senate’s review and confirm Jackson to the Commonwealth Ports Authority board.","The Senate adopted a committee report and confirmed Bartley A. Jackson to fill an unexpired term on the Commonwealth Ports Authority board representing Saipan's Third Senatorial District, voting 8–0 on Feb. 14.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Senate adopts revenue resolution, journal and joint resolution supporting port-air service exemption

Senate passes amended FY2025 budget bill restoring employee hours; one senator objects over process and casino payments

Business leaders back Magofna bills to attract investment; Senate places trade and investment bills on calendar

Senate unanimously confirms Bartley A. Jackson to Commonwealth Ports Authority board