By Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang NGERULMUD, Palau (Sept. 28, 2026) — With the end of the fiscal year just two days away, the House of Delegates and Senate are trading competing budget provisions through amendments and bill riders as they remain divided over how to keep the government funded while work on the FY2027 budget continues. […]
Tag: Palau Senate
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Senators Propose $50 Minimum Land Value to Strengthen Palauan Landowners’ Position
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang NGERULMUD, Palau — “Many times, investors who negotiate with Palauans to lease their lands understand real estate and land values at their market prices while the Palauan owners do not,” Sen. Tellames said, as the Senate considers legislation that would establish uniform land valuation and appraisal procedures nationwide. Five senators — […]
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Senators propose changes to Palau’s net-metering law
By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — A Senate bill backed by Sens. Rukebai Kikuo Inabo, Secilil Eldebchel and Mason N. Whipps would change how Palau credits customers who send renewable electricity to the public grid and allow the utility to recover certain costs of serving them. If passed, Senate Bill No. 12-81 could bring power […]
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Palau bill seeks same-day counting of absentee ballots
By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — (Sept. 21, 2026) A bill passed by the House of Delegates would require absentee ballots to be received and counted on the same day as the general election, ending the current provision that allows qualifying absentee ballots to be received and counted after Election Day. House Bill 12-42-5, HD1 […]
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Public Support Alone Cannot Determine Who Is a Security Risk
By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — President Surangel Whipps Jr. says one of the challenges in determining who should be placed on Palau’s “Undesirable Aliens List” is distinguishing a genuinely good person from someone who may be using relationships and public support to mask activities that could threaten Palau’s interests. Responding to a Senate inquiry, […]
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Palau Could Become World’s 13th Rocket Launch Nation, Entrepreneur Tells Students
By: Laurel Marewibuel KOROR, Palau — A New York-born engineer and four-time founder is urging Palau to pursue an unprecedented economic transformation: becoming the world’s 13th country capable of launching rockets into space. Eric Adolphe, founder of Forward Edge-AI, said the proposal is advancing through the Palau Senate, with a public hearing expected in October. […]