House Bill 301 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Marcus ParamoreRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Southeastern Mvskoke Nation; authorization to hire a police officer

Summary

HB301 would authorize the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation to hire certified police officers to protect tribal property and residents, with on reservation enforcement and limited off reservation authority, effective October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

The tribe may employ one or more individuals as police officers to protect the reservation, its property, and its residents and employees. These officers would have police powers on the reservation similar to state police, including ejecting trespassers, arresting without a warrant for certain offenses, and bringing suspects before a court. Off reservation authority would be limited to pursuing offenders suspected of on reservation crimes or making felony arrests on the reservation when there is probable cause. Funding for these tribal officers cannot come from state or local law enforcement funds, and an officer’s authority ends when they are no longer employed by the tribe.

Who It Affects

• Southeastern Mvskoke Nation (the tribe) gains authority to hire and supervise police officers to protect tribal lands, property, and residents, with officers paid by the tribe and certified by Alabama POST.
• Residents, employees, and visitors on the Southeastern Mvskoke Nation Reservation will be protected by tribal police on the reservation and subject to tribal enforcement; intruders and trespassers may be ejected or arrested by tribal officers.

Key Provisions

• Defines police officer as a tribe appointed, POST certified officer.
• Allows the tribe to employ one or more police officers to protect the reservation from intruders and protect tribal property and residents.
• Authorizes officers to eject trespassers, arrest without a warrant for certain offenses on the reservation, and bring suspects before courts.
• Allows custody transfer to the appropriate law enforcement agency for incarceration and prosecution.
• Limits off reservation enforcement to pursuing offenders on the reservation or felonies committed on the reservation with probable cause, and requires the officer to operate only on reservation.
• Prohibits use of state or local funds to pay tribal officers; officer authority ends when they cease to be tribe employees.
• Effective date is October 1, 2026; reservation is defined to include tribal lands and property held in trust by the United States.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Safety & Emergencies