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HB301 • 2026

Southeastern Mvskoke Nation; authorization to hire a police officer

Southeastern Mvskoke Nation; authorization to hire a police officer

Crime Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Paramore
Last action
2026-03-03
Official status
Passed by House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the bill will affect existing local police forces in relation to tribal lands, leaving this as an open question.

Southeastern Mvskoke Nation Police Authorization

This bill allows the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation to hire police officers to protect their property and residents, with specific rules about where these officers can enforce laws.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation to employ certified police officers.
  • Gives tribal police officers powers similar to state police officers on tribal land.
  • Limits the authority of tribal police officers to act outside of tribal property except in certain situations, like pursuing a suspect or making an arrest for a felony committed within their jurisdiction.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Southeastern Mvskoke Nation
  • Tribal police officers hired by the tribe
  • Residents and employees of the reservation

Terms To Know

Reservation
The area within the boundaries of the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation, including all structures, fixtures, and personal property owned by the tribe.
Tribal police officer
A law enforcement officer appointed by the tribe who meets requirements set by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not provide funding for hiring these officers.
  • It is unclear how this will affect existing local police forces in relation to tribal lands.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-03 House

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 687 (Yeas 105, Nays 0)

  2. 2026-03-03 House

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 101, Nays 0)

  3. 2026-01-29 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  4. 2026-01-28 House

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  5. 2026-01-21 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  6. 2026-01-21 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Official Summary Text

Southeastern Mvskoke Nation; authorization to hire a police officer

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB301 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB301
U9R8LDG-1
By Representative Paramore
RFD: Public Safety and Homeland Security
First Read: 21-Jan-26
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U9R8LDG-1 01/15/2026 EGC (L) EGC 2025-3614
Page 1
First Read: 21-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Existing law does not provide for police
protection for the property of the Southeastern Mvskoke
Nation, a tribe recognized by the State of Alabama.
This bill would authorize the tribe to employ
individuals to provide police protection to tribal
grounds, property, employees, and residents.
This bill further describes the police officers'
powers of arrest and the limits of their authority off
of tribal property.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation; to
authorize the tribe to employ certified police officers to
provide protection to tribal property and tribal property
residents; and to describe and limit the duties of tribal
police officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
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HB301 INTRODUCED
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, the
following terms have the following meanings:
(1) POLICE OFFICER. A law enforcement officer appointed
by the tribe pursuant to subsection (b) who meets all of the
requirements of the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and
Training Commission for certified law enforcement officers.
(2) RESERVATION. The area within the boundaries of the
Southeastern Mvskoke Nation Reservation, including all
structures, fixtures, and personal property owned by the
tribe, and any property owned or held in trust for the tribe
by the United States.
(3) TRIBE. The tribe of Indians organized as a
nonprofit corporation known as the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation
and recognized by the State of Alabama as the Southeastern
Mvskoke Nation.
(b) The council of the tribe may employ one or more
suitable individuals to act as police officers to protect the
reservation from intruders and trespassers, to prevent damage
to the properties of the reservation, and to provide for the
safety of residents and employees of the reservation. No state
or local funds allocated for law enforcement purposes shall be
used to provide financial support for the police officers
hired by the tribe. The authority of any individual hired as a
police officer shall immediately cease when the individual
ceases to be an employee of the tribe.
(c)(1) Any police officer hired by the tribe pursuant
to subsection (b) shall be charged with all of the powers of
state police officers, including, but not limited to, the
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HB301 INTRODUCED
Page 3
state police officers, including, but not limited to, the
right to bear firearms. A police officer may do any of the
following:
a. Eject trespassers from the buildings and grounds of
the reservation.
b. Without a warrant, arrest an individual who is
engaging in disorderly conduct, trespassing upon reservation
property, or committing any offense on the reservation in the
presence of the police officer.
c. Bring any individual arrested under paragraph b.
before a court having jurisdiction and, upon proper affidavit,
charge the individual with committing the offense.
d. With a lawful warrant, arrest any individual for
committing any offense on the reservation and bring the
individual before a court having jurisdiction for charging and
prosecution.
(2) Any individual who is lawfully arrested by a police
officer who is employed by the tribe may be received into the
custody of the law enforcement agency that would otherwise
have jurisdiction over the offense for incarceration and may
be prosecuted before the court having jurisdiction.
(d) The power of a police officer employed by the tribe
pursuant to this section may be exercised only upon the
reservation, and a police officer may not otherwise act as a
police officer off of the reservation except under either of
the following conditions:
(1) When lawfully pursuing any offender suspected of
committing an offense while on the reservation.
(2) When making an arrest for a felony that has been
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HB301 INTRODUCED
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(2) When making an arrest for a felony that has been
committed either in the presence of the police officer or,
where probable cause exists, on the reservation.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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