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Expanded Tribal Court Powers to Fight Drug Trafficking and Gun Crime

This law strengthens the authority of Tribal courts and law enforcement on reservations to combat drug trafficking, particularly the opioid epidemic, and firearms offenses. It grants Tribal courts the power to issue search warrants for electronic communications and expands their jurisdiction over serious drug and gun crimes. This aims to increase safety for reservation residents by providing local justice authorities with better tools to prosecute serious offenders.
Key points
Tribal courts can now issue search warrants for electronic communications (like emails or stored data) in criminal cases, similar to State and Federal courts.
Tribal jurisdiction is expanded to include drug trafficking, opioid-related offenses, and firearms offenses, allowing Tribal authorities to prosecute a wider range of serious crimes committed on reservations.
Individuals convicted under the new, expanded Tribal jurisdiction can be housed in federal prisons through a special program, facilitating the enforcement of longer sentences.
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Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_HR_9310
Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Process start date: 2024-08-06
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

PROTECT Act of 2024

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_HR_9310.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2024-08-06.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Tribal courts can now issue search warrants for electronic communications (like emails or stored data) in criminal cases, similar to State and Federal courts.
  • Tribal jurisdiction is expanded to include drug trafficking, opioid-related offenses, and firearms offenses, allowing Tribal authorities to prosecute a wider range of serious crimes committed on reservations.
  • Individuals convicted under the new, expanded Tribal jurisdiction can be housed in federal prisons through a special program, facilitating the enforcement of longer sentences.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in House

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Security