# Northern Mariana Islands HB 24-11: To provide greater authority to government transit buses owned and operated by the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority (COTA); to establish traffic safety measures, enhance public engagement, ensure fiscal responsibility, and comply with existing CNMI laws and federal standards; and for other purposes.

Northern Mariana Islands HB 24-11, To provide greater authority to government transit buses owned and operated by the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority (COTA); to establish traffic safety measures, enhance public engagement, ensure fiscal responsibility, and comply with existing CNMI laws and federal standards; and for other purposes., is a 24th Northern Mariana Islands Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Vincent Raymond Seman Aldan (Independent); status enacted, last action 2026-03-12 (PL 24-24); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HB24-11-24
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Northern Mariana Islands HB 24-11
- State: Northern Mariana Islands
- Session: 24th Northern Mariana Islands Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: To provide greater authority to government transit buses owned and operated by the Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority (COTA); to establish traffic safety measures, enhance public engagement, ensure fiscal responsibility, and comply with existing CNMI laws and federal standards; and for other purposes.
- Status: enacted
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-03-11
- Last action: 2026-03-12, PL 24-24
- Sponsor: Vincent Raymond Seman Aldan (Independent)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (17 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Safer, more accessible COTA buses: benefit, low. All COTA buses must carry first aid kits and fire extinguishers. Buses must be wheelchair-accessible, and priority seats are reserved for seniors and people with disabilities. These steps improve rider safety and access.
- Fine money tracked and audited for safety: benefit, low. Fines are deposited in the general fund and allocated to COTA and DPS safety subaccounts; spending needs a legislative appropriation. COTA and DPS must report each year on fine revenue, spending, and safety results. The Public Auditor audits these subaccounts yearly and publishes the findings.
- More public voice in transit safety rules: benefit, low. COTA operates under guidance from the Public Transportation Advisory Board. DPS and COTA run joint safety and public education campaigns about the new traffic rules. Before major traffic rules take effect, agencies must hold public hearings and include the community’s feedback.
- Cleaner buses and protected federal funding: benefit, low. COTA must ensure its buses meet CNMI environmental rules and prioritize electric or hybrid buses in new purchases. COTA must follow Federal Transit Administration requirements to keep federal grant eligibility. Twice a year, COTA reports to the Governor and Legislature on the progress of federally…
- Drivers: no passing, yield to COTA buses: cost, low. The law bans passing a stopped COTA bus on the side where people board or get off. You may pass in marked safety zones, or at traffic lights or with police direction, at up to 10 miles per hour. You must yield when a COTA bus signals with a flashing yield sign to reenter traffic. The Department of…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Vincent Raymond Seman Aldan (Independent), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Senate Final Reading — Passed | pass |   |   |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | Roll call on HB 24-11 | pass | 17 | 0 |   |

## Actions (5)

- 2026-03-12: PL 24-24 (House)
- 2026-02-13: Senate Final Reading — Passed (Senate)
- 2025-03-11: House Final Reading — Passed (House)
- 2025-03-11: House First Reading — Passed (House)
- 2025-03-11: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- HB 24-11, 2025-03-11: [PDF](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/house/hse_bills/24/HB24-11.pdf)
- PL 24-24, 2025-03-11: [PDF](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/PL%2024-24%20(HB%2024-11%20To%20Enhance%20Authority%20for%20Commonwealth%20Transit%20Buses%20under%20COTA).pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 24-108: To provide a Budget Plan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for Fiscal Year 2027 and make appropriations for the operations and activities of… (enacted)
- HLB 24-62: To appropriate $500,000.00 from revenues collected for the Third Senatorial District pursuant to Public Law 20-59; and for other purposes. (enacted)
- SB 24-48: Establish a Division of Customs and Biosecurity within the DOF (enacted)
- HB 24-84: To authorize the expenditure of $2,105,563.00 identified by the Governor as a surplus from Fiscal Year 2025 revenues that shall be appropriated by the Legislat… (enacted)
- HB 24-74: To appropriate funds derived from trust interest income from the Marianas Public Land Trust towards payment of household allotments of Nutrition Assistance Pro… (enacted)
- HB 24-63: To amend Title 4 sections 1991 to 1995 relating to the 3% construction tax on gross revenues derived from certain non-residential construction projects and to… (enacted)

## Sources
- [HB 24-11 (PDF)](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/house/hse_bills/24/HB24-11.pdf)
- [PL 24-24 (PDF)](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/PL%2024-24%20(HB%2024-11%20To%20Enhance%20Authority%20for%20Commonwealth%20Transit%20Buses%20under%20COTA).pdf)

## Related
- [HB 24-108: To provide a Budget Plan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands fo…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HB24-108-24)
- [HLB 24-62: To appropriate $500,000.00 from revenues collected for the Third Senatorial Dis…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HLB24-62-24)
- [SB 24-48: Establish a Division of Customs and Biosecurity within the DOF](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-SB24-48-24)
- [HB 24-84: To authorize the expenditure of $2,105,563.00 identified by the Governor as a s…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HB24-84-24)
- [HB 24-74: To appropriate funds derived from trust interest income from the Marianas Publi…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HB24-74-24)
- [HB 24-63: To amend Title 4 sections 1991 to 1995 relating to the 3% construction tax on g…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HB24-63-24)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HB24-11-24 (as of 2026-10-12).