SB906

Regular Session

Relating to the authority of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to commission peace officers.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribal Council • Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Peace Officers • Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Security protocols must be updated by this date; there is no phase-in period).
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) will not issue new rules, but the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo must establish departmental protocols and commission officers prior to the effective date.

Immediate Action Plan

Map Your Assets: Immediately determine if any of your physical locations or logistics routes fall within the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo reservation boundaries.
Update Emergency Protocols: Revise site safety plans to ensure the correct law enforcement agency is contacted during an emergency effective September 1, 2025.
Review Insurance: Consult with your broker to confirm that your liability coverage remains valid when relying on Tribal law enforcement for police response.
Establish Liaison: If you have significant operations on the reservation, direct your Security Director to introduce themselves to the incoming Tribal Police leadership to establish a working relationship.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Private Security Vendors: Contracts with private security firms operating on Tribal land must be amended to update "chain of custody" and arrest protocols. Vendors must be legally compelled to hand over detainees to Tribal Peace Officers, not El Paso PD.
Insurance Policies: General Liability and Risk Management policies must be reviewed. Ensure coverage extends to incidents involving a sovereign tribal entity, as recourse for police negligence or misconduct will differ from standard municipal liability.

Hiring/Training

Security Personnel: In-house and contract security staff stationed on Tribal land require immediate retraining on the new jurisdictional hierarchy and emergency contact procedures (dispatching Tribal Police vs. 911).

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Incident Reporting: Incident reports for crimes occurring on your premises (theft, assault, trespass) will now be generated by the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo. Legal teams must establish a protocol for requesting these records, as the Tribe’s internal procedures may differ from the standard Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) process used by cities.

Fees & Costs

No Direct Fees: There are no new state levies or fees associated with this bill.
Indirect Costs: Potential minor legal costs associated with updating site security plans and reviewing insurance exclusions regarding sovereign entities.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Sovereign Immunity vs. State Liability: While these officers enforce *state* law, they are employed by a *sovereign nation*. It is legally ambiguous whether the Tribe will waive sovereign immunity for civil torts (e.g., excessive force claims on your property). Expect litigation to define the limits of liability.
Jurisdictional Boundaries: The physical demarcation of "reservation land" can be complex. Ambiguity exists regarding "hot pursuit" scenarios where Tribal officers leave the reservation or municipal officers enter it.
Public Information Access: It is unclear if the Tribe will fully adhere to the Texas Public Information Act for police records, or if they will apply stricter Tribal privacy laws to incident reports.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsLaw Enforcement Native Americans Peace Officers

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 906
89R559 JCG-D	By: Blanco
	Criminal Justice
	3/21/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso is the only federally recognized tribe in Texas without the authority to commission peace officers, despite the state's two other recognized tribes having this ability. While tribal nations maintain sovereignty over their lands, the state retains jurisdiction over criminal law and traffic enforcement. S.B. 906 would grant the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo the authority to employ and commission peace officers, enabling the Pueblo to enforce state laws more effectively, enhance public safety, and support efforts to recruit and retain tribal peace officers.

As proposed, S.B. 906 amends current law relating to the authority of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to commission peace officers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 2A.003(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, to authorize the tribal council of certain federally recognized tribes, including the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, to employ and commission peace officers to enforce state law within the respective tribe's reservation and to make a nonsubtantive change.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Cesar BlancoDemocrat · Primary Author

Coauthors (1)

Peter Flores (R)

House Sponsor

Rep. Mary GonzalezDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 906

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the authority of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to commission
	peace officers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Article 2A.003(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
	is amended to read as follows:
	(a) The tribal council of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of
	Texas, [or] of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, or of the
	Ysleta del Sur Pueblo may employ and commission peace officers to
	enforce state law within the respective tribe's reservation.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 23, 2025

TO:	Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB906 by Blanco (Relating to the authority of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to commission peace officers.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

407 Commission on Law Enforcement

LBB Staff:

JMc, MGol, CSh, HE

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB906

What does Texas SB906 do?

Senate Bill 906 grants the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo the statutory authority to commission peace officers with full powers to enforce Texas state law within their reservation boundaries. This legislation shifts primary law enforcement jurisdiction for businesses located on or adjacent to Tribal lands in the El Paso region from municipal or county agencies to the Tribal Police Department. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Security protocols must be updated by this date; there is no phase-in period).

Who authored SB906?

SB906 was authored by Texas Senator Cesar Blanco during the Regular Session.

When was SB906 signed into law?

SB906 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 21, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB906?

SB906 is enforced by Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribal Council, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Peace Officers and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

How urgent is compliance with SB906?

The compliance urgency for SB906 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB906?

The cost impact of SB906 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB906 address?

SB906 addresses topics including law enforcement, native americans and peace officers.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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