Relating to the authority of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to commission peace officers.
Summary
HB 333 would amend the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to expressly authorize the tribal council of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to employ and commission peace officers to enforce state law within the tribe’s reservation. The bill adds Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to the existing list of tribes already granted this authority, which currently includes the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas.
The measure is narrowly focused and does not create a new statewide law enforcement system; instead, it extends an existing statutory power to one additional federally recognized tribe in Texas. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, if enacted.
Impact
If enacted, HB 333 would amend Article 2A.003(a) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to expand the authority of tribal governments to commission peace officers for enforcement of state law on their reservations. The practical effect would be to allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal council to appoint officers with state-law enforcement authority within tribal lands, aligning its authority with that already granted to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill was generally noncontroversial in concept, as it is a targeted jurisdictional update affecting a specific tribal government. However, the bill did not advance to final passage in the House and was laid on the table subject to call on May 7, 2025, indicating that it stalled procedurally rather than generating a recorded floor debate or vote in the materials provided. No committee transcript or vote record is available here to show broader support or opposition.
Contention
Because no committee transcripts or recorded votes are included, there is no direct evidence of specific objections in the provided materials. Any potential contention would likely center on the scope of tribal law-enforcement authority, state oversight, and how commissioned tribal peace officers interact with local or state agencies, but the record here does not identify any named opponents or supporters raising those issues.
Proposing a constitutional amendment to require the governor to execute model gaming compacts with the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and to authorize those tribes to sue this state if the governor fails to execute said model gaming compacts.
Relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and use of a mobile tracking device.