Tribal courts could issue warrants for emails, texts and account records
Passed one chamberS. 1574Latest action
Sponsor: Catherine Cortez Masto · Senator · NV
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Tribal Access to Electronic Evidence Act
119th Congress
Topics: Family & community
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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Tribal courts of general criminal jurisdiction could issue warrants for electronic records held by phone, email and social media companies.
55-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill amends the Stored Communications Act to add Tribal courts to the list of courts that can issue warrants for electronic records. The court must be a court of general criminal jurisdiction that its own tribal law allows to issue search warrants. Tribal governments would also be treated like federal and state governments in other parts of the law, including rules on delayed notice, civil lawsuits over violations, and video rental and purchase records.
Who does it affect?
Federally recognized tribes and their law enforcement agencies would be most directly affected. Technology companies holding customer data would have to answer valid Tribal court warrants as they now do for state and federal ones.
Why does it matter?
Tribal police and prosecutors, who are not on the current list of courts, have had trouble getting emails, text messages and account records for crimes on tribal lands. People whose accounts are investigated would have the same kinds of legal protections that apply in other courts, including warrant standards that meet the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Based on the “Engrossed in Senate” text of Sep 29, 2026.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedMay 1, 2025
- Senate committee
- Senate vote
- HouseYou are here · Oct 5, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the Senate and now goes to the House. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Held at the desk.