Council to take up override vote, $90 million in spending during Spring Session

WINDOW ROCK

The 25th Navajo Nation Council opens its Spring Session on Monday, with lawmakers expected to take up a veto override, nearly $90 million in Sihasin Fund spending, restructuring bills and confirmations in the Council Chamber.

President Buu Nygren’s official State of the Navajo Nation Address is included on the proposed agenda, followed by a question and answer session that could last for hours.

Legislation 0069-26, the measure to override Nygren’s veto of CMA-16-26, is the fourth veto override the 25th Council has taken up in 2026. The others, Legislation 0008-26, Legislation 0041-26 and Legislation 0042-26, involve Nygren’s vetoes of a virtual-attendance resolution, appointments to the Navajo Board of Education and restrictions on unconfirmed executive leaders, respectively.

In September, Nygren used his line-item veto authority to strike roughly $22.8 million from the fiscal 2026 comprehensive budget, including about $8.8 million from the Legislative Branch. The Council’s challenge to those vetoes remains pending in Navajo Nation District Court.

The chief justice of the Navajo Nation, Speaker Crystalyne Curley and Controller Sean McCabe are each slated to deliver reports to the full Council. Written reports are also scheduled from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Indian Health Service, Council standing committees, boards and commissions, the Navajo Nation Department of Justice and the Association of Indians for Self-Determination in Healthcare.

The only item carried over into old business is Legislation 0032-26, a supplemental appropriation of $3,684,574 from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance to cover fiscal 2026 operations for nine Legislative Branch programs. The bill requires a two-thirds vote and would waive portions of the Nation’s appropriations law.

The largest single appropriation on the agenda is Legislation 0012-26, which would allocate $84 million from the Sihasin Fund for the Navajo Nation Transportation Improvement Project and adopt the corresponding expenditure plan.

A second Sihasin Fund draw, Legislation 0245-25, would amend Resolution CO-43-24 to approve $5,624,605 for the Division of Aging and Long-Term Care Support to build out the Ramah Navajo Senior Citizens Center.

Together, the two bills would move nearly $90 million from the Sihasin Fund in a single week. Both require two-thirds votes.

Beyond the Navajo Nation Fiscal Recovery Fund override, two other bills on the agenda would shift long-standing administrative authority toward the Legislative Branch.

Legislation 0028-26 would amend Title 2 of the Navajo Nation Code so the director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, the Nation’s lobbying and federal affairs arm in Washington, D.C., serves at the pleasure of the Council. The bill, which requires a two-thirds vote, would place hiring and firing authority over the Nation’s top federal affairs officer with the Council. The Washington Office has been serving at the pleasure of the president.

Legislation 0234-25 would consolidate the Office of Management and Budget with the Office of the Controller. The bill would rewrite the structure of the Nation’s two main financial offices through amendments to Title 2 and Title 12 of the Navajo Nation Code.

Taken together, the NNFRF override, the consolidation bill and the Washington Office bill would move more Executive Branch functions under direct Council oversight.

Three stand-alone policy bills round out new business. Legislation 0087-25 would amend the Navajo Preference in Employment Act to establish a Navajo Nation government minimum wage.

Legislation 0014-26 would authorize a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes arrangement for the Painted Desert Power Solar Project and waive the Nation’s sales, business activity and possessory interest taxes on the project.

Legislation 0070-26 would amend Title 11 of the Navajo Nation Code to establish forfeiture of position for any elected or appointed official who fails to subscribe to and swear the oath of office.

All three bills require two-thirds votes.

The Council will also consider three confirmations. Legislation 0030-26 would confirm Sharlene Begay-Platero as executive director of the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development. Legislation 0062-26 would confirm Dolly Manson to the Commission on Navajo Government Development as the Central Agency member for a four-year term. Legislation 0063-26 would confirm James Benally to the same commission as the Northern Agency member, also for four years.

The commission advises the Council and president on structural reforms to Navajo Nation government.

The session will live stream on the Navajo Nation Council’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/navajonationcouncil. A Zoom audio line is also available by dialing 669-900-6833, Meeting ID 928 871 7160, passcode 86515.

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