House passes FY2026 budget bill on unanimous vote to avert shutdown
September 27, 2025 | House, Northern Mariana Legislative Sessions, Northern Mariana Islands
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SAIPAN — The House of Representatives passed House Bill 24-46 HD1 SS1 on first and final reading to identify revenues and appropriate funds for the Commonwealth’s fiscal year 2026, voting 18-0 to approve the measure and avert a potential government shutdown.
The bill was advanced after the House adopted an emergency declaration and accepted Senate Communication 24-54 returning the amended measure from the Senate. Floor leaders suspended committee-reporting rules so the chamber could act on the bill immediately.
Representative John Paul Sablan, chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, told colleagues the budget reflects interchamber cooperation over several days of joint meetings. “This has been a demanding process, but it has also been a moment where the legislature has shown responsibility, unity, and a commitment to our people in the face of difficult fiscal realities,” Sablan said during debate. He thanked legislative staff, the Senate fiscal committee and members of the administration for their participation.
The floor leader moved the emergency declaration, stating the action was needed to address the pressing issue of the FY2026 budget and to act on the Senate’s amended version of the House bill. The clerk recorded 18 members present and later stated that all 18 voted yes both on the emergency declaration and on final passage.
Virginia Villegomez, identified in the transcript as a special assistant in the Office of Management and Budget, addressed the chamber during public comment and commended the legislature’s work. “I would like to commend … the members of the House of Representatives for putting together a document that we can work with to ensure that there is no shutdown in government,” Villegomez said.
Members described the measure as a working product to keep government operating while further negotiations continue. Several speakers urged additional collaboration with the governor’s office, and committee chairs said the House will resume work to align the bill with the administration’s revenue projections and other adjustments.
Representative Sablan said the budget preserves funding for core services and schools while calling for “equitable reforms and reasonable austerity measures.” During his remarks he referenced funding for the Public School System (PSS) and urged careful, strategic reductions rather than cuts that would cripple essential services. In the transcript he stated, “One of the key provisions in this budget is funding for our public school system. PSS will receive $3,931,900,000.0.” That figure appears in the record as read aloud during debate.
Lawmakers also discussed outstanding fiscal items that will be addressed in follow-up work, including possible use of Marianas Public Land Trust resources and a reported $29,000,000 loan under negotiation, changes to work-hour/austerity proposals, and bills intended to increase revenues or improve collections. Several members proposed establishing joint working groups with the Senate to move stalled revenue measures.
Votes at a glance
- Emergency declaration to consider the Senate-amended budget: Passed, vote recorded as 18 yes, 0 no.
- Acceptance of Senate Communication 24-54 (returning HB 24-46 HD1 SS1): Passed by voice vote; bill placed on the calendar for action today.
- Suspension of rules to allow first and final reading on same day: Passed by voice vote.
- Passage of House Bill 24-46 HD1 SS1 (FY2026 budget, first and final reading): Passed, recorded roll-call vote 18 yes, 0 no. The clerk announced, “With all 18 members present voting yes, House Bill number 24-46, House Draft 1, Senate Substitute 1 hereby passes the House.”
What happens next
The bill was placed on the legislative calendar for immediate action and will be transmitted to the governor for consideration. House members said they expect continued negotiations with the administration and the Senate to refine revenue estimates and implement targeted adjustments; the chamber also signaled plans for a working group to address related revenue and policy measures.
(Quotations and attributions are taken directly from the House session transcript.)
The bill was advanced after the House adopted an emergency declaration and accepted Senate Communication 24-54 returning the amended measure from the Senate. Floor leaders suspended committee-reporting rules so the chamber could act on the bill immediately.
Representative John Paul Sablan, chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, told colleagues the budget reflects interchamber cooperation over several days of joint meetings. “This has been a demanding process, but it has also been a moment where the legislature has shown responsibility, unity, and a commitment to our people in the face of difficult fiscal realities,” Sablan said during debate. He thanked legislative staff, the Senate fiscal committee and members of the administration for their participation.
The floor leader moved the emergency declaration, stating the action was needed to address the pressing issue of the FY2026 budget and to act on the Senate’s amended version of the House bill. The clerk recorded 18 members present and later stated that all 18 voted yes both on the emergency declaration and on final passage.
Virginia Villegomez, identified in the transcript as a special assistant in the Office of Management and Budget, addressed the chamber during public comment and commended the legislature’s work. “I would like to commend … the members of the House of Representatives for putting together a document that we can work with to ensure that there is no shutdown in government,” Villegomez said.
Members described the measure as a working product to keep government operating while further negotiations continue. Several speakers urged additional collaboration with the governor’s office, and committee chairs said the House will resume work to align the bill with the administration’s revenue projections and other adjustments.
Representative Sablan said the budget preserves funding for core services and schools while calling for “equitable reforms and reasonable austerity measures.” During his remarks he referenced funding for the Public School System (PSS) and urged careful, strategic reductions rather than cuts that would cripple essential services. In the transcript he stated, “One of the key provisions in this budget is funding for our public school system. PSS will receive $3,931,900,000.0.” That figure appears in the record as read aloud during debate.
Lawmakers also discussed outstanding fiscal items that will be addressed in follow-up work, including possible use of Marianas Public Land Trust resources and a reported $29,000,000 loan under negotiation, changes to work-hour/austerity proposals, and bills intended to increase revenues or improve collections. Several members proposed establishing joint working groups with the Senate to move stalled revenue measures.
Votes at a glance
- Emergency declaration to consider the Senate-amended budget: Passed, vote recorded as 18 yes, 0 no.
- Acceptance of Senate Communication 24-54 (returning HB 24-46 HD1 SS1): Passed by voice vote; bill placed on the calendar for action today.
- Suspension of rules to allow first and final reading on same day: Passed by voice vote.
- Passage of House Bill 24-46 HD1 SS1 (FY2026 budget, first and final reading): Passed, recorded roll-call vote 18 yes, 0 no. The clerk announced, “With all 18 members present voting yes, House Bill number 24-46, House Draft 1, Senate Substitute 1 hereby passes the House.”
What happens next
The bill was placed on the legislative calendar for immediate action and will be transmitted to the governor for consideration. House members said they expect continued negotiations with the administration and the Senate to refine revenue estimates and implement targeted adjustments; the chamber also signaled plans for a working group to address related revenue and policy measures.
(Quotations and attributions are taken directly from the House session transcript.)
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