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S1967119th Congress

PROTECT Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Daines, Steve [R-MT]

Introduced

Summary

Expands Tribal criminal jurisdiction and court authority over electronic communications. This bill would let Tribal courts be treated like other government entities for accessing stored electronic communications and would explicitly add Tribes into federal criminal definitions and procedures. It would also create special Tribal jurisdiction for certain drug and firearms offenses and broaden Tribal access to a federal prisoner reentry program.

Show full summary
  • Tribal courts and users: Tribal courts would be able to issue warrants under the Stored Communications Act and would be included in the law's definitions and procedures. Warrants for stored content would follow Tribal warrant rules and can cover content held up to 180 days.
  • Tribal justice and public safety: The bill would add a defined category of "controlled substance-related offenses" and a defined "firearms offense" into the Indian Civil Rights Act framework. Those definitions cover drug trafficking, unlawful possession, paraphernalia offenses, and firearm use tied to covered crimes.
  • Tribal prisoners and reentry: People convicted under the new special Tribal jurisdiction would become eligible for the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program. That change would widen who may participate in federal Tribal prisoner reentry programs.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

More tribal prisoners eligible locally

If enacted, more people convicted under specified Tribal criminal jurisdiction could be eligible for the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program. That could let some Tribal prisoners serve time closer to home or access reentry services near their communities. The change only applies to people convicted under the special Tribal jurisdiction described in the Indian Civil Rights Act.

New tribal drug and gun crimes

If enacted, the bill would add clear definitions for certain drug and firearms crimes under Tribal law. It would treat trafficking, unlawful possession, and paraphernalia offenses as a covered category, and add a firearms offense category tied to use or possession in furtherance of crimes and domestic‑violence convictions. Tribal prosecutors could use these definitions when charging people under Tribal criminal jurisdiction.

Tribal courts can access messages

If enacted, Tribal courts and Tribal governments would be added to parts of the federal law that let courts get stored electronic messages. Messages held 180 days or less could be turned over only with a warrant. Tribal warrants would follow the Tribe warrant procedures tied to the Interior Secretary’s list of federally recognized tribes. The bill would also let Tribal courts seek delayed notice and be treated like states for certain privacy rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Daines, Steve [R-MT]

MT • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 6/5/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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