# Northern Mariana Islands HB 24-46: To Define and Identify General Revenues and approve revenues and resources of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as identified pursuant to Article III, Section 9 (a) of the CNMI Constitution, as amended, and 1 CMC Division 7, for Fiscal Year 2026 and make appropriations for the operations and activities of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, its agencies, instrumentalities, and independent programs, and to provide budget authority for government corporations for Fiscal Year 2026; and for other purposes.

Northern Mariana Islands HB 24-46, To Define and Identify General Revenues and approve revenues and resources of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as identified pursuant to Article III, Section 9 (a) of the CNMI Constitution, as amended, and 1 CMC Division 7, for Fiscal Year 2026 and make appropriations for the operations and activities of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, its agencies, instrumentalities, and independent programs, and to provide budget authority for government corporations for Fiscal Year 2026; and for other purposes., is a 24th Northern Mariana Islands Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by John Paul Palacios Sablan (Independent); status enacted, last action 2025-09-30 (P.L. 24-14 (IV)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HB24-46-24
- 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 24-46
- State: Northern Mariana Islands
- Session: 24th Northern Mariana Islands Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: To Define and Identify General Revenues and approve revenues and resources of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as identified pursuant to Article III, Section 9 (a) of the CNMI Constitution, as amended, and 1 CMC Division 7, for Fiscal Year 2026 and make appropriations for the operations and activities of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, its agencies, instrumentalities, and independent programs, and to provide budget authority for government corporations for Fiscal Year 2026; and for other purposes.
- Status: enacted
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-08-15
- Last action: 2025-09-30, P.L. 24-14 (IV)
- Sponsor: John Paul Palacios Sablan (Independent)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (25 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 37

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Government workers keep earned leave benefits: benefit, medium. During Fiscal Year 2026, CNMI government employees continue earning a full pay period of leave and other job benefits despite austerity. Donated sick leave counts hour for hour, regardless of the donor's or recipient's salary. Total donated sick leave cannot exceed 1,040 hours.
- Law-enforcement workers can cash out leave: benefit, medium. Eligible law-enforcement personnel can receive a lump-sum payment for unused annual leave while staying employed. This covers personnel in Corrections, Public Safety, and Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Payment depends on available funds and cannot cover more than 208 hours.
- Training funds support United States workers: benefit, medium. For Fiscal Year 2026, the law provides $1.3 million exclusively for vocational education, apprenticeships, and other training for U.S. workers. One allocation passage assigns $780,000 to Northern Marianas Technical Institute and $195,000 to Northern Marianas College. It also assigns $52,000 to publ…
- Funding keeps Commonwealth government services running: benefit, medium. The law provides about $127.46 million in General Revenues for Commonwealth government operations, divided as listed in Schedule A. Fiscal Year 2026 runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Appropriated funds from sources outside General Revenues are released monthly. Programs needing…
- Utilities receive budgets and government payments: benefit, medium. For October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation can spend about $102.50 million, with 572 positions. The Public Utilities Commission can spend $47,568, with one position. Each entity’s spending is limited to its approved ceiling or actual funds received, whichever is…
- Healthcare corporation gets operating spending authority: benefit, medium. The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation has FY2026 spending authority of about $141.15 million for staff and operations. Its staffing ceiling is 1,041 positions. Spending cannot exceed either the approved ceiling or funds actually generated, collected, or received. This authority runs October 1, 20…
- Travel support for inter-island medical patients: benefit, low. The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation's Health Network Program administers inter-island and off-island medical referrals. The law reserves $150,000 of program funds exclusively for inter-island referrals. Inter-island services include stipends, airfare, and lodging for patients and escorts. The l…
- Dedicated funds support scholarships and student exchanges: benefit, low. The Scholarship and Financial Assistance Office must use $50,000 of its funding for the Professional Student Exchange Program. The Secretary of Finance must transfer elected officials' salaries waived under the salary-waiver law to the Scholarship Trust Account. That account's money can fund only s…
- Government backs closure of landfill cells: benefit, low. If this law causes a funding shortfall, the CNMI Government must pledge its full financial backing when needed. That backing supports closure of Marpi Landfill Cells #1 and #2. The law does not state a dollar amount.
- Passport office gets protected operating funds: benefit, low. At least $150,000 of General Revenue received by the CNMI Passport Office is reserved for staff and operations. The reserve supports passport services. It does not change who qualifies for a passport.
- Public lands funds support park upkeep: benefit, low. The Department of Public Lands can pay for Parks and Recreation staff services in all three senatorial districts. Those payments must follow its agreement with the Department of Lands and Natural Resources. Public Lands must also pay for landscaping and grounds maintenance at Parks and Recreation p…
- Tobacco settlement funds health and youth: benefit, low. The law allocates $541,597 in Tobacco Settlement funds to health, education, youth programs, and local governments. Public Health receives 40% ($216,638.80), and the Public School System receives 20% ($108,319.40). Youth Affairs receives 12.5%, private schools receive 7.5%, and the Rota and Tinian–…
- School funds support instruction and student travel: benefit, low. The Public School System must allocate at least 70% of all its funds directly to instruction. It also sets aside $500,000 for student travel and lodging within the CNMI during School Year 2025–2026. Students must participate in school-system interscholastic sports leagues, cultural competitions, or…
- Advance funding supports health and education: benefit, low. For October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026, most appropriated funds are released to agencies monthly. Programs needing one-time payments receive advance funding, including scholarships, healthcare, Medicaid, public schools, Northern Marianas College, and the technical institute. Covered entities can al…
- Courts gain funding and staffing flexibility: benefit, low. Judicial leaders can adjust staff schedules and court operating hours to match available personnel and operating funds. During austerity, they can use available non-General Revenue funds, including revolving accounts, to restore reduced employee hours. Court spending authorities can also move money…
- Economic development agency receives operating authority: benefit, low. The Commonwealth Economic Development Authority can spend about $1.46 million in FY2026, with a ceiling of 13 positions. Spending cannot exceed the lower of its approved ceiling or funds actually generated, collected, or received. This authority runs October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026. It funds age…
- Legislative offices gain operating spending options: benefit, low. Each legislative house has a $200,000 leadership account for operations and activities under its rules. Its presiding officer must divide part of that money equally among all standing committees. Member-office funds, including employee personnel funds, can cover approved legislative-business travel…
- Public auditor receives funding for oversight: benefit, low. The Office of the Public Auditor can spend about $1.73 million in FY2026, with a ceiling of 17 positions. Spending cannot exceed the lower of its approved ceiling or funds actually generated, collected, or received. The authority runs October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026. It funds public audit operat…
- Public land trust receives operating authority: benefit, low. The Marianas Public Land Trust can spend about $1.76 million in FY2026, with a ceiling of six positions. Spending cannot exceed the lower of its approved ceiling or funds actually generated, collected, or received. The authority runs October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026. It supports trust operations…
- Tourism agency receives operating spending authority: benefit, low. The Marianas Visitors Authority can spend about $6.41 million in FY2026, with a ceiling of 31 positions. Spending cannot exceed the lower of its approved ceiling or funds actually generated, collected, or received. The authority runs October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026. It supports tourism-agency op…
- Ports receive funding for daily operations: benefit, low. The Commonwealth Ports Authority can spend about $18.35 million on staff and operations in FY2026. Its staffing ceiling is 237 positions. Spending cannot exceed the lower of its approved ceiling or funds actually generated, collected, or received. The authority runs October 1, 2025–September 30, 20…
- Medicaid gains flexibility to move funds: benefit, low. For Fiscal Year 2026, Medicaid Agency, reimbursement, and enterprise systems and health information technology appropriations form one budget. The Medicaid Director can move these funds among spending categories. This authority does not itself change Medicaid eligibility or household benefit amount…
- Housing corporation receives an operating budget: benefit, low. The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation can spend about $7.94 million in FY2026, with a ceiling of 67 positions. Spending cannot exceed the lower of its approved ceiling or funds actually generated, collected, or received. This authority runs October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026. It funds operation…
- College and technical institute receive budgets: benefit, low. Northern Marianas College can spend about $15.21 million in FY2026, with a ceiling of 166 positions. Northern Marianas Technical Institute can spend $920,944, with a ceiling of 35 positions. Each institution’s spending is limited to its approved ceiling or actual funds received, whichever is lower.…
- Legislative staff gain protected funding options: benefit, low. The Legislative Bureau Director can adjust staff schedules and operating hours to match available personnel and operating funds. Available non-General Revenue funds can restore reduced Bureau employee hours, but restoration is not guaranteed. Bureau spending authorities can also move money between…
- Northern Islands visitors face possible fees: cost, low. The Northern Islands Mayor can adopt rules charging municipal fees, including fees for package tours, fishing, and hunting. The law does not set fee amounts or itself require an immediate payment. After a revolving fund is established, the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation appropri…
- Basic holiday pay for government workers: cost, low. Covered CNMI employees required to work on a non-federal Commonwealth legal holiday receive basic pay for their hours worked. They receive no extra adjustment for holiday leave with pay. Employees funded partly or fully with federal money are exempt.
- Government job openings face tighter limits: cost, low. Most new or vacant executive-branch jobs cannot be filled. Specified essential safety and fire-service jobs in each district are exceptions; other Governor-designated essential jobs need legislative joint approval. Hiring can proceed when a notice was executed, a candidate selected, or a filling ac…
- Government agencies face strict spending limits: cost, low. For October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026, General Fund agencies cannot exceed approved spending or staffing limits without legislative joint approval. The Finance Secretary controls spending and must confirm sufficient lawful funding before most government contracts. Courts, the Legislature, public s…
- Mayors face new personnel contract limits: cost, low. The First Senatorial District Mayor cannot enter personnel contracts through memoranda of understanding. The same prohibition applies to the Mayors of Saipan and the Northern Islands. The law does not state how many workers or services are affected.
- Department heads face pay and austerity rules: mixed, medium. For Fiscal Year 2026, Resident Department Heads in the First and Second Senatorial Districts have a $40,000 annual salary. These officials and CNMI Department Heads are subject to austerity measures provided by law. Federal funds or other funds outside General Revenues can pay salaries above the sp…
- Medicaid technology jobs use contract employment: mixed, low. For FY2026, all 11 Medicaid technology positions funded under ORG 11850400 are designated as excepted-service contract employee positions. The change requires a Medicaid Agency request and Office of Personnel Management concurrence. It permits that employment arrangement but makes it subject to per…
- Schools protect classrooms and limit administration: mixed, low. Public School System funds cannot pay Board of Education personnel or operations, or litigation fees and costs. Central administrative directors cannot receive raises while specified austerity measures, such as teacher furloughs or program cuts, remain. Teacher salaries, instructional jobs, and ess…
- Government funds gain flexibility with limits: mixed, low. For FY2026, the Governor can move up to 100% of covered executive-branch funds, but cannot fund new hires or salary adjustments. Legislative, judicial, legislative-delegation, and Section 604 funds are excluded; municipal funds require the mayor’s consent. The Governor must report these transfers q…
- Agency audit fees support retiree insurance: mixed, low. Covered government entities must allocate 1% of their total appropriations to the Public Auditor's Fee. Collections above the Public Auditor's appropriation of about $1.73 million are reserved for CNMI retirees' health and life insurance. Covered agencies outside the General Fund must send the fee…
- Officer overtime requires alternative funding sources: mixed, low. Eligible officer overtime in Public Safety and Fire and Emergency Medical Services must be paid from non-General Revenue funds. The law identifies a funding source for these payments but excludes General Revenue. It does not set overtime amounts.
- Dedicated program funding paused, excess restored: mixed, low. For October 1, 2025–September 30, 2026, the law pauses dedicated funding from listed taxes and fees. Affected uses include tobacco control, retiree group health and life insurance, cancer programs, vehicle funds, foreign-worker fees, and customs overtime. Listed hotel, alcohol-container, electronic…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: John Paul Palacios Sablan (Independent), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-09-26 | Senate | Roll call on HB 24-46 | pass | 8 | 0 |   |
| 2025-08-15 | House | Roll call on HB 24-46 | pass | 17 | 0 |   |

## Actions (5)

- 2025-09-30: P.L. 24-14 (IV) (House)
- 2025-09-26: Senate Final Reading — Passed (Senate)
- 2025-08-15: House Final Reading — Passed (HD1) (House)
- 2025-08-15: House First Reading — Passed (HD1) (House)
- 2025-08-15: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- HB 24-46, 2025-08-15: [PDF](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/house/hse_bills/24/HB24-46.pdf)
- P.L. 24-14 (IV), 2025-08-15: [PDF](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/PL%2024-14%20(HB%2024-46%20HD1%20SS1%20FY%202026%20Budget%20Act)%20(IV).pdf)
- [HD1 SS1], 2025-08-15: [PDF](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/HB%2024-046%20HD1%2C%20SS1%20FY%202026%20Budget%20Act%20FINAL%20645PM.pdf)
- [HD1], 2025-08-15: [PDF](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/TransSenHB%2024-46%20HD1.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 24-46 (PDF)](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/house/hse_bills/24/HB24-46.pdf)
- [P.L. 24-14 (IV) (PDF)](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/PL%2024-14%20(HB%2024-46%20HD1%20SS1%20FY%202026%20Budget%20Act)%20(IV).pdf)
- [HD1 SS1 (PDF)](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/HB%2024-046%20HD1%2C%20SS1%20FY%202026%20Budget%20Act%20FINAL%20645PM.pdf)
- [HD1 (PDF)](https://www.cnmileg.net/documents/files/24TH%20UPDATE/TransSenHB%2024-46%20HD1.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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- [Northern Mariana Islands state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/northern-mariana-islands)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MP-HB24-46-24 (as of 2026-10-12).