Bill > S1967

This bill, known as the PROTECT Act of 2025, makes several significant changes to legal jurisdiction for Tribal courts. First, it amends the Stored Communications Act to recognize Tribal courts as courts of competent jurisdiction, which means Tribal courts can now issue warrants for electronic communication records and storage just like federal, state, and military courts. The bill expands the definition of "governmental entity" to include Tribal governments and provides clear definitions for terms like "Indian Tribe" and "Tribal court". Additionally, the legislation grants Tribal courts expanded jurisdiction over controlled substance-related offenses and firearms offenses within Indian country, specifically allowing Tribal courts to prosecute drug trafficking, unlawful drug possession, drug paraphernalia offenses, and firearms offenses related to domestic violence or other covered crimes. As a supplementary provision, the bill also modifies the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program to accommodate offenders convicted under these new Tribal criminal jurisdictional powers. These changes aim to enhance Tribal judicial autonomy and improve legal processes within Native American communities by providing Tribal courts with more comprehensive law enforcement capabilities.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1967/all-info