REDW committee holds Rota hearing on bill to allow private land leases up to 99 years

The Senate Standing Committee on Resources, Economic Development and Workforce (REDW) held a public hearing in Rota to receive testimony on Senate Legislative Initiative 24-3, a proposal to amend Article 12 of the Northern Mariana Islands Constitution to increase private land lease terms from 55 years to as much as 99 years and to require financial provisions intended to protect persons of Northern Mariana descent.

Senator Karina A. L. Magoffna, chair of REDW, opened the session and told attendees the hearing was being recorded and would be posted later on the legislature’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. She said the committee was present only to receive public testimony and would not deliberate on the measure during the session.

A Rota resident who identified herself in the record as Mrs. Hoku spoke in favor of strengthening protections for landowners. ‘‘It is an initiative long overdue to help the land owners so that they will not be used, abused by the rich,’’ she said, urging clearer safeguards, mandatory title searches and appraisals to ensure residents understand fair market value.

Mrs. Hoku also raised practical questions about the bill’s design. She asked whether residential lessees who are not investors would face the same financial‑clause requirements as commercial developers and asked which entity would review and enforce those clauses. ‘‘I think we should reduce the 20 to maybe 10,’’ she said, urging the committee to shorten a proposed 20‑year review period for upside or economic adjustments.

Magoffna reiterated key points about the initiative, saying the measure is optional for landowners and does not transfer ownership: "This bill does not sell public land. Ownership remains with the private land owner," she said. She described the proposal as an effort to modernize land policy to make large‑scale investment projects financially viable, attract long‑term investment, create jobs, expand the tax base and improve infrastructure.

The chair noted the committee would accept additional comments in writing and said more public hearings are planned on Saipan and Tinian. The committee adopted its meeting agenda at the start of the session and later adjourned after a motion to close the hearing; the chair announced the meeting adjourned at 5:31 p.m.

What happens next: The committee will keep the public comment period open and consider written submissions sent to Magoffna’s office or the legislature as it prepares later deliberations and any amendments to the proposal.