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No House action to help homestead recipients—Cruz
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Posted on Aug 03 2022
Cruz
Since transmittal to the House of Representatives in September 2021, House members have not acted on legislation aimed at assisting village homestead recipients who have lost their assigned homestead lots based on acquisition of land through marriage, a recipient of a deed of land by a parent or an estate, or purchase of affordable real property after the issuance of a homestead permit despite the homesteaders compliance with NMIAC § 145-20.4-120.
Senate Bill 22-22, introduced by Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz, and as amended by the Senate, seeks to amend certain provisions pertaining to village and agricultural homesteads on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. More importantly, Senate Bill 22-22, SS1, in its current form, intends to prohibit the Department of Public Lands from revoking a village or agricultural homestead permit from an individual who met and complied with all necessary requirements, including not having any interest in land at the time the permit was approved.
Based on its legislative history, similar provisions proposed under S.B. 22-22, SS1 were first introduced during the 21st Legislature as Senate Bill 21-36. The bill was passed by the Senate in December 2020 and transmitted to the House of Representatives for action. Unfortunately, no further action was taken by the House, which prompted the bill’s reintroduction of the proposed provisions during the 22nd Legislature. In its current form, S.B. 22-22, SS1, was officially transmitted to the House of Representatives on Sept. 15, 2021, and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on Oct. 1, 2021. To date, no further action has been taken by the assigned House committee.
With the end of the year fast approaching and the election around the corner, Cruz worries that the House will once again take no further action on this critical legislation that greatly affects eligible homestead recipients throughout the CNMI.
“It has been over six months since any action has been made to the homestead bill. For the benefit of our people throughout the Commonwealth, I hope the House will look into this matter soon so that we can finally help our residents to not lose their homestead lots,” he said. (PR)
