HB361 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Matthew HammettRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe; authorization to hire a police officer
Summary: The bill would authorize the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe to hire certified police officers to protect tribal property and residents and to define their arrest powers and limits, primarily on the reservation.
What This Bill Does
Authorizes the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe to employ one or more certified police officers who meet Alabama POST requirements to protect the reservation, its property, and its residents and employees. Gives these tribal officers state-police–level powers on the reservation, including ejecting trespassers, arresting individuals without a warrant for certain offenses, and bringing arrestees before courts; they may transfer custody to the appropriate law enforcement agency for incarceration or prosecution. Limits off-reservation police action to two situations: when lawfully pursuing an offender on the reservation or when making a felony arrest with probable cause related to offenses committed on the reservation; funding must come from the tribe (not state/local funds), and officer authority ends if they are no longer tribal employees. Establishes an effective date of October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe (and its tribal council), which would gain authority to hire, manage, and define the duties of tribal police officers.
Residents and employees of the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe Reservation, who would receive police protection and enforcement on the reservation and be subject to arrest by tribal officers for offenses on the reservation.

Key Provisions
The tribe may employ certified police officers to protect tribal property and residents, with officers meeting POST certification requirements.
Tribal officers would have powers similar to state police on the reservation (including arrest and firearms), with specific off-reservation limits and funding restrictions, and the act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Public Safety & Emergencies