MVSKOKE RESERVATION – On Thursday, June 11, the Business, Finance, and Justice Committee held an in-person meeting. Passed legislation will go on to the next full council meeting, unless otherwise noted.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
NCR 26-003 A resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) National Council selecting Patrick Freeman Jr. to the Board of Directors of OneFire Holding Company, LLC. Representative William Lowe sponsored the bill. It was cosponsored by Representative Lucian Tiger III. It passed 3-1. Representative James Factor voted no on the legislation.
If Freeman is approved by the full council, his term will last until Friday, June 29, 2029.
NCR 26-004 A resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) National Council selecting Nancy Harjo Serna to the Board of Directors of Fountainhead Creek Golf Course, LLC. Rep. Lowe sponsored the bill. It was cosponsored by Rep. Tiger. It passed 4-0.
If Serna is approved by the full council, her term will last until Saturday, June 30, 2029.
NCR 26-005 A resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) National Council selecting Jeremy Larney to serve on the Muscogee Nation Business, LLC (MNB, LLC) Board of Directors. Rep. Tiger sponsored the bill, which passed 4-0.
If Larney is approved by the full council, his term will last until Wednesday, June 20, 2029.
TR 26-031 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation confirming the nomination of Gregory Bigler to serve as a Supreme Court Justice of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Rep. Tiger sponsored the bill. It was cosponsored by Representative Robert Hufft. It passed 4-0.
If Bigler is approved by the full council, his term will expire six years after his date of confirmation.
TR 26-037 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation establishing the Tribal Digital Infrastructure and Data Sovereignty Task Force and providing for coordinated development of tribal digital infrastructure initiatives on the Reservation. Rep. Factor sponsored the legislation. It was cosponsored by Speaker Randall Hicks, Representative Cody Phillips, and Rep. Tiger. It was postponed indefinitely 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, the task force will be used by the Nation to coordinate the planning of a Tribal digital infrastructure. According to the bill, this includes cybersecurity, technology operations, and data sovereignty matters. It would have seven members and meet annually.
NCA 26-093 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, FY 25 Grants to improve the Criminal Justice Response Program for the benefit of the Office of the Attorney General. Representative Sandra Golden sponsored the bill, which passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, the $500,000 grant will be used by the MCN Office of the Attorney General to update laws on sex crimes and to develop new policies for Tribal employees who work with sex crime survivors.
NCA 26-094 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending NCA 24-082 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women for Reimbursement). Rep. Golden sponsored the bill, which passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, the $3.154,720 grant will be used to reimburse the Nation for detaining non-Indians who commit certain crimes in Indian Country.
NCA 26-095 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funding (LATCF) received from the United States Department of the Treasury to create a new strategic engagement fund to be administered by the Secretary of the Nation and Office of Government Relations. Rep. Lowe sponsored the bill. It failed 1-3.
If the legislation had passed, the $5,000 in LATCF funding would have established the Strategic Engagement fund. It would have supported scholarships, official hosting and event participation.
NCA 26-096 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the National Endowment for the Arts and appropriating a Tribal match for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Public Relations. Rep. Golden sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, the $20,000 grant will be used to hire a screenwriter to write a screenplay on the Nation’s experience on the Trail of Tears.
NCA 26-097 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending MCNCA Title 14, § 2-623 entitled “Unlawful Possession of Firearms”; and amending MCNCA Title 14, § 2-636 C. entitled “Unlawful Possession of Firearms or Weapons by a Minor” Rep. Low sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, it will update the law so that youth offenders convicted of an offense will be charged with a felony if they are found in unlawful possession of a firearm.
NCA 26-098 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending MCNCA Title 14, Chapter 2, Sub-Chapter 3, entitled “Crimes Against Person” and creating new law in §§ 2-348 entitled “Felony Pointing Firearms” and 2-349 entitled “Felony Discharging Firearms” and amending Sub-Chapter 4, entitled “Arson, Burglary and Related Crimes” and further amending sub-chapter 6, entitled “Crimes Against Public Safety” Rep. Lowe sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, it will update the law to define murder in the first and second degrees. It will also establish offenses for manslaughter in the first and second degrees. It will also more specifically define the crimes of burglary and firearm misconduct.
NCA 26-099 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation approving and authorizing the Principal Chief to execute and file the articles of organization with the Office of the Secretary of the Nation to form “Muscogee Studios, LLC” under the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Limited Liability Company Act and approving the operating agreement for “Muscogee Studios, LLC”. Rep. Lowe sponsored the legislation, which was postponed until the July BFJ committee meeting 4-0.
According to the legislation, “it is in the best economic interest of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to organize a tribal business holding company to be formed as a limited liability company wholly-owned by the Nation.”
NCA 26-100 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation appropriating funds to Muscogee Studios, LLC. Rep. Lowe sponsored the legislation, which was postponed until the July BFJ committee meeting 4-0.
According to the legislation, $375,000 will be used to fund Muscogee Studios, LLC’s initial operations. The company will be tribally owned and generate revenue and profits through direct advertising sales.
NCA 26-101 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending NCA 18-057 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation approving and authorizing the Principal Chief to execute and file the articles of organization with the office of the Secretary and Commerce to form “Fountainhead Creek Golf Course, LLC” under the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Limited Liability Company Act and approving the operating agreement for “Fountainhead Creek Golf Course, LLC” Rep. Lowe sponsored the bill. It was postponed until the July BFJ committee meeting 4-0.
According to the legislation, “It is in the best economic interest of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to organize a tribal business holding company to be formed as a limited liability company wholly-owned by the Nation.” It will be used for the interest of economic development ventures.
NCA 26-102 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending Title 17, Chapter 2, entitled “Trade and Commerce Authority” and establishing the Muscogee (Creek) Development Corporation. Rep. Lowe sponsored the bill, which passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, the corporation will commence on October 1 of each year and end on September 30 of the following year. According to the legislation, the corporation’s purpose is to “investigate, evaluate, carry on and maintain various for-profit Tribal business enterprises, ventures, and/or economic development projects for the economic benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.”
NCA 26-103 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending NCA 26-046 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation approving and authorizing the Principal Chief to execute and file the articles of organization with the Office of the Secretary of the Nation to form “MCN Outdoor, LLC” under the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Limited Liability Company Act and approving the operating agreement for “MCN Outdoor, LLC”). Rep. Factor sponsored the bill. It was postponed until the July BFJ committee meeting 4-0.
According to the legislation, “It is in the best economic interest of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to organize a tribal business holding company to be formed as a limited liability company wholly-owned by the Nation.”
Referred Legislation:
NCA 26-089 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing an appropriation to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Veterans Affairs Services Office for installation of signage and interactive kiosks. Representative Darrell Proctor sponsored the bill, which initially passed through the Health, Education, and Welfare Committee 4-0. It was approved for funding by the BFJ committee 4-0.
According to the legislation, the $47,694 grant will be used for kiosk installation services provided by ImageNet Consulting.
To view the full agenda, visit: mcnnc.com.
