Saipan in the Northern Marianas. Photo: Supplied
Senate president Dennis James Mendiola has introduced a legislative initiative that could result in direct cash payouts to registered voters of Northern Marianas descent.
He proposes what he described as a long-overdue return on investment from public land revenues.
Senate Legislative Initiative No. 24-01 seeks to amend the CNMI Constitution to authorize the distribution of monetary dividends to registered Northern Marianas descent (NMD) voters, from earnings generated by the Marianas Public Land Trust (MLPT), which manages funds derived from the lease of public lands.
"This is just the start of the conversation," Mendiola said in an interview.
"For years, we've said public lands belong to NMDs. But outside of constitutional protections, there's been no direct economic return. This initiative changes that."
To be eligible, recipients must be both of Northern Marianas descent and registered voters - a dual requirement Mendiola said was intentional to encourage civic participation and ensure a fair and transparent process.
"We want the beneficiaries themselves to vote on it," he said.
The initiative proposes the creation of a Northern Marianas descent dividend program, beginning with a one-time distribution of US$30 million to $50 million from the land trust's investment corpus.
Future distributions would occur every ten years and be subject to legislative appropriation, in coordination with the land trust and the Commonwealth Election Commission.
Mendiola emphasized that the payout mechanism is designed to be sustainable. MPLT currently generates roughly US$3 million to $3.5 million annually in investment income, and the proposed 10-year cycle would allow time to replenish the fund before the next disbursement.
"This is not a one-and-done deal," he said. "We've built in the timeline so the trust remains solvent and continues to grow."
What happens next?
Because the proposal seeks to amend the CNMI Constitution, the measure must go through a multi-step process.
First, it will be referred to the appropriate Senate committee, which will schedule public hearings on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. If cleared by the committee, it returns to the Senate floor for a vote.
To move forward, the initiative must be approved by three-fourths of the members in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Commonwealth Election Commission. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Mark Rabago
If it garners that level of legislative support, the proposed amendment is then forwarded to the Commonwealth Election Commission, which will place it on the ballot for a public vote during the next general election or a special election.
Only if a majority of voters approve the measure will it become part of the CNMI Constitution and carry the force of law.
Mixed public reaction
While many residents welcomed the news on social media, some expressed skepticism. Critics questioned the long-term sustainability of the plan and raised concerns that the initiative may draw legal challenges over discrimination.
"I refuse to sit back and keep worrying about theoretical lawsuits," Mendiola responded.
"The Constitution is clear - MPLT funds exist for NMDs. If challenged, maybe this will finally bring clarity on the scope of protections under our covenant."
He added that estimates of how much an individual could receive under the proposal vary depending on the final list of eligible recipients. Preliminary figures suggest dividends could range from $1,000 to $2,000 per person in the first round.
"This isn't about politics - it's about economic justice," Mendiola said. "Our people are struggling. This puts money back into homes and boosts the local economy."
The Senate President urged the NMD community to take part in the public input process as the proposal moves through the legislative pipeline.
"Whether you support it or not, I encourage everyone to come out, ask questions, and help shape what could be a historic shift in how we recognize and reward our indigenous landowners," he said.
