[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6565156,"mediaKeyId","3226017-a7a7d34ef37817a5e1bd217d96b8f164","parentId",3226017,"title","Committee hears bill to advance Chamorro and Carolinian language education; members request stakeholder input","audioSeconds",1176,"startMs",1272000,"endMs",2448000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3226017-a7a7d34ef37817a5e1bd217d96b8f164&start=1272&end=2448","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3226017-a7a7d34ef37817a5e1bd217d96b8f164/thumbnail_1272000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565156/Committee-hears-bill-to-advance-Chamorro-and-Carolinian-language-education-members-request-stakeholder-input","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565156-3a9dd4a3960911fc2e65b27ca227421c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123250&Signature=MlpL9An9ai68NTjdiQLCZLAH~JKoQwqjndCefk36JdOX2XrHd08Rm6d3yEk7Ng1PTffabEqkVGFK~T-XgM655lWJ4RFav6jekp~WvROzJRk58TdlcaTJiAu-1uhUJJArch5r6C8b4QIjORdcXoDTYnr-2SgkzKLVuizQvDoncZXLv2CzGbLpitcGaDInzAIp1MqmWB7folmUmhlW7Gcw-fz3kLb1KWdXPcrYvl6k2SAlT-zeGgn8BCi4ExSHennRQmuq07CDJ9PSVXVk9md-3N76cukhZjPvc1FAUGy6rsA3Q7LH9LPv1mHBuv9JHM9YNena0mpZxLv2n87AcN~0JQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-05-08T14:06:31Z","article","Senators discussed SB 24-04 on May 8, a bill that would advance instruction in the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian languages in the Commonwealth by supporting credentialing, pay parity and a 16‑week academic program for language teachers.

The bill’s author described the measure as focused on providing tools and compensation to bilingual instructors rather than immediately mandating additional required coursework for students. The sponsor said the bill “focuses more on the credentials of the program and the pay,” and that a separate bill could address mandating language instruction from eighth grade upward.

Members and stakeholders raised several procedural and implementation questions. Some senators urged that the public-school system (PSS) and Northern Marianas College (NMC) be consulted before final action; Senator (recorded as) Barbault asked that the bill be tabled to allow PSS and NMC to review certification and curriculum implications. Other senators said NMC already offers Chamorro studies degrees and that the bill could build on existing courses; members also noted that a certificate or degree program for Carolinian language appears to be missing locally.

Committee members discussed aligning NMC and PSS responsibilities so the bill would not conflict with constitutional mandates or the land‑grant mission of NMC CREES. The Chamorro and Carolinian Language Policy Commission and the Office of Indigenous Affairs submitted comments in support, according to committee staff.

No final committee vote on SB 24-04 is recorded in the transcript excerpt. Committee members asked staff to obtain formal comments from PSS and NMC and suggested the bill could be tabled for revision depending on stakeholders’ feedback.

Senator Manny Gregory T. Castro, the bill sponsor, told the committee the legislation’s intent is to “pay the bilingual teachers the salary that they should be getting and to end the discrimination,” and emphasized the bill is intended to build capacity and equity for language instructors.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","250508 24th NMCL Sen HW&P 10:00 a.m.","oneSentenceSummary","Senators discussed SB 24-04 on May 8, a bill proposing credentialing, pay parity and a short certificate program for Chamorro and Carolinian language teachers, and requested additional input from PSS and Northern Marianas College before final action.","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},6565160,"Committee advances bill to transfer soil-and-water oversight to Northern Marianas College after mixed views; vote 3–1",2040,658000,2698000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3226017-a7a7d34ef37817a5e1bd217d96b8f164&start=658&end=2698","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3226017-a7a7d34ef37817a5e1bd217d96b8f164/thumbnail_658000.jpg","/articles/6565160/Committee-advances-bill-to-transfer-soil-and-water-oversight-to-Northern-Marianas-College-after-mixed-views-vote-31","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565160-174a28e6f3ae39cdbde34f4511eeadde/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123250&Signature=Ofxjce0D~p099STwKr-PB70MyyzzIk0i~pSNoqPcSkxKWHe6C9wrUM8Ohg8RWz2qPFOpevyKX8J2KRJC6~QS4xmT-5VD1ft7cf9bVW~rG9J362ZS9zpuV~~aCB1KSR8PK5~bAzWjpN2upXdYGBu-tMRhWVTnQuQVtL-3OFi9lzWgwnKK4UpGx4NkLJjo8776mC9XBIb654Ugc0ERwcpvAjRO9u~RRcwOUn8tGndtaQQ46TpWWbQnWH9sYSONbTcMpaFdFewFaES~B1RibHisH3XNDgQc6AVOZ~FGkRQkhiKI01BiF08DFMWKPkDM1nbx5UAAh4D-L77xnGIetLvJHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Health, Welfare and Programs voted 3–1 on May 8 to advance SB 24-03, a bill to transfer management and supervision of the Commonwealth’s soil-and-water conservation districts from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to the Northern Marianas College Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Service (NMC CREES).

Members debated potential conflicts with NMC’s federal land‑grant responsibilities and DLNR’s statutory mandates. Senator (recorded as) Vibauta told the committee she supported the bill’s intent but noted the committee had not yet received formal comment from NMC CREES; she urged proceeding but left room for NMC to raise concerns once the bill is transmitted.

Some senators urged caution because NMC CREES is supported by federal land‑grant funding that could create programmatic constraints. One member said, “my only caution is that, NMC Crees is a federal program, and I just worry that if we deviate away from DLNR, there might be some consequences to that.” Others argued DLNR had not been enforcing soil‑and‑water conservation proactively and that NMC CREES’s recent grant activity and mission made it a logical home for the program.

After discussion the committee took a motion to adopt the committee report and advanced SB 24-03. The legislative assistant recorded three yes votes and one no; the dissenting senator said the committee should wait for comments from both PSS (Public School System) and NMC before acting. The committee asked staff to prepare the committee report for the full Senate.

The transcript shows members pressed for stakeholder consultation even as they advanced the bill; several members said they would prefer receiving formal, written comments from NMC CREES and from DLNR and noted that floor amendments may be necessary if the House alters the measure.","Senators debated SB 24-03, which would move management of soil-and-water conservation districts from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to Northern Marianas College (NMC CREES). The committee advanced the bill 3–1 after members urged outreach to NMC and noted federal‑grant constraints.",{"_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},6565165,"Senate committee adopts bill to expand cottage-food rules with safety and labeling amendments",4022,2531000,6553000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3226017-a7a7d34ef37817a5e1bd217d96b8f164&start=2531&end=6553","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3226017-a7a7d34ef37817a5e1bd217d96b8f164/thumbnail_2531000.jpg","/articles/6565165/Senate-committee-adopts-bill-to-expand-cottage-food-rules-with-safety-and-labeling-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565165-7bd685d6b8e7d314747bf373500f9fed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123250&Signature=dztcpT2tEaXMnun7Qjeo4th9FmNFq~H7m3ndTxlfpK9lrfFU31TVzJr7SxKP4XpqChW~nmEpcbYF~1W6g0OQcyBb7hakhLArI2OVz5ABlW0bcSjbxNpcPuj00fPUVcJCE9DbLHOfwnlmlASsPNJHCjdXV31xsuRYTL2XiVmXu5-i1W884~NxKmNdudyoRuSyDW0orViXNUuY8jrJL~yLhZsYZAjEg6FiDHvu1KlLqohHUCIeSPFGoH-~qJwrO0dIF~TMnhMAShB7woPxjDF2qqbn~ReRaNrxEkHTiI52cqyFTKcgQApBpCd~uTk9a2E2-Dz-oefiRgvemZOvU~3c7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Health, Welfare and Programs voted to adopt SB 24-31 SD1 on May 8, advancing legislation to let small food entrepreneurs sell defined low-risk, nonperishable foods and to establish sanitary-permit, labeling and inspection requirements.

The bill’s committee substitute incorporates multiple amendments requested by the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation’s Environmental Health Division (EHDP) and other stakeholders to make statutory language consistent with the 2022 FDA Food Code and local enforcement laws. Committee members and EHDP staff said the changes are intended to broaden entrepreneurship while preserving public-health protections.

John Tagabao of CHCC Environmental Health Services, who joined the meeting with operations manager Aileen Tanglinan, told the committee the division “is in support of this initiative” but recommended specific clarifications and a regulatory implementation period. The committee accepted several of CHCC’s suggestions, including replacing the bill’s undefined phrase for low‑risk foods with the Food Code definition for non–time/temperature‑control‑for‑safety (non‑TCS) foods and replacing “registration” language with a requirement to “apply for and obtain a sanitary permit.”

Other adopted changes require cottage‑food operators to label products with a business name, ingredients and production date; permit microenterprise home kitchens to sell at temporary events (permits not to exceed 30 consecutive days); and align enforcement steps and fines with existing local laws (Public Law 11‑40 and Public Law 12‑48). CHCC officials told the committee they will use those public laws and the Food Code as the basis for regulations and inspections.

Committee members emphasized access and compliance assistance for small operators. Senator Manny Gregory T. Castro said the bill “helps reduce the gap and encourages entrepreneurship” and praised language that allows EHDP to balance enforcement with warnings for first offenses. Senator (name recorded as) Babalto suggested small micro‑loans or micro‑grants — for refrigeration or cutting boards, for example — to help operators comply with permit requirements.

CHCC told the committee it has identified 32 known operators who fit cottage‑food or microenterprise categories; 23 are already regulated under sanitary permits and 9 were actively marketing without permits. EHDP staff said the aim of the statute is to remove barriers so unpermitted operators will come forward to obtain permits and then be subject to inspection and regulatory oversight.

The committee moved a package of amendments in session, and the committee adopted the SD1 draft. The roll call submitted by the legislative assistant recorded four yes votes with one member absent.

The committee asked staff to prepare the committee report and forward the SD1 draft to the full Senate for further action. CHCC and EHDP officials said they will draft regulations and coordinate with the Legislature during the post‑enactment rulemaking window.","The Senate Committee on Health, Welfare and Programs on May 8 advanced SB 24-31 SD1 to allow low-risk home-prepared foods and microenterprise home kitchen operations while aligning definitions, labeling, permitting and enforcement with existing public laws and the 2022 FDA Food Code.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to advance Chamorro and Carolinian language education; members request stakeholder input

Committee advances bill to transfer soil-and-water oversight to Northern Marianas College after mixed views; vote 3–1

Senate committee adopts bill to expand cottage-food rules with safety and labeling amendments