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2026-07-30 - CNMI Senate

Summary

Built from the official Senate Journal SJ 24-30 (Seventh Special Session, first day). These are Commonwealth Senate sessions held on Saipan; Saipan has no municipal council in the record. No video was found, so there is no transcript or timing.

  • Called to order 3:33 p.m., adjourned 4:28 p.m.; Babauta and Magofna excused; Senator Calvo attended remotely from Rota.
  • Rules suspended by voice vote to add H.J.R. 24-15 and Report 24-96 to the agenda and to calendar H.B. 24-107.
  • Sharon A. Manglona confirmed to the Commonwealth Election Commission (First Senatorial District), 6 yes and one abstention (Floor Leader D. Manglona, family relationship).
  • H.J.R. 24-15 honoring Master Navigator Sesario Sewralur adopted by voice vote.
  • A floor amendment to H.B. 24-107 HD1 (Senate Draft 1) was adopted 7-0, then the bill passed 7-0.
  • Senators questioned CUC leaders on slow power restoration (about 4,000 customers still out) and overtime.

CUC Emergency Financing Bill

  • Amendment by Senator Castro dropped residential security deposits from the pledge and added CUC's dividend payments to CEDA as a pledgeable asset; adopted 7-0; passed 7-0.
  • CUC counsel, chief financial officer and executive director spoke in support; the counsel asked for sovereign immunity waiver and specific collateral terms.
  • Floor Leader D. Manglona, Senator P. Manglona, Senator Calvo, Senator Castro and Senator Hofschneider spoke; see the issue page for their points.

Election Commission Appointment

  • Report 24-96 adopted; confirmation 6-0-1.

Other business

  • Governor's office staff spoke in public comment thanking the Executive Appointments committee on behalf of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
  • Communications: House 24-160; Senate and Governor message counts not itemized in the journal.
  • Senator Castro used miscellaneous communications to describe his office's work helping residents obtain residency and ownership verification letters at the Survivor Recovery Center for FEMA applications.
  • Related emergency background: State of Significant Emergency - Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi.

Sources