The 8th Osage Nation Congress will meet for its 2024 Hun-Kah Session starting Monday, March 25 in Pawhuska.
This will be the final 24-day regular session for the 12-member Legislative Branch before the June 3 General Election when Osage voters will decide on which candidates will serve in the six opening Congress member seats.
During the regular spring session, Congress will consider filed bills, resolutions and other matters brought to the Legislative Branch for review and possible action. The Congress also considers individuals appointed to serve on various ON boards and commissions for confirmation votes to serve full terms during regular sessions.
The members will meet in Congressional select and standing committee meetings, which will be scheduled as needed throughout the session for initial reviews and consideration of legislative bills and resolutions and possible amendments. The committees also initially consider board and commission appointees, who must provide professional experience and answer a written questionnaire as part of the vetting process to be considered for a vote by session’s end.
Following the General Election business, which includes Wahzhazhe Elections Board certification of results pending any challenges or recount requests, the newly elected individuals will join the other six sitting Congress members and they will be known as the 9th ON Congress. After the newly elected Congress members are sworn in during Inauguration Day in July, the 12 members will convene for a special session to elect officers and form new select and standing committees.
The Hun-Kah Session is the first of two constitutionally mandated legislative gatherings for the 12-member Congress. Per Osage law, the Hun-Kah Session begins on the last Monday in March of each year.
During the session and committee meetings held in the Capitol Building along Pawhuska’s Main Street, Congressional public meetings (except executive sessions allowed by Osage law) will be live-streamed at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch/live-media
Downloadable copies of filed legislative bills and resolutions, as well as Congressional meeting notices and agendas are posted online to the Legislative Branch website at: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch
