Bill > HB333

This bill amends Article 2A.003(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to expand the authority of tribal councils to commission peace officers. Specifically, the legislation adds the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to the list of tribes (which already included the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas) that can employ and commission peace officers to enforce state law within their respective reservations. This means that the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, a federally recognized Native American tribe located in El Paso, Texas, will now have the legal ability to train and authorize their own law enforcement personnel to maintain public safety and enforce state laws specifically within their tribal lands. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, providing ample time for the tribe to prepare for implementing this new law enforcement capability.