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NY S08834

Bill

Status

Passed

2/13/2026

Primary Sponsor

April Baskin

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2025-2026 General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Creates an exception to Indian land entry restrictions for persons temporarily and continuously passing through on highways, roads, trails, or other thoroughfares
  • Removes the governor from the list of officials authorized to enter law enforcement agreements with the Seneca Nation, leaving the state police superintendent, county sheriffs, and Salamanca police chief
  • Specifies that law enforcement agreements will detail activities the enforcement entity will undertake, rather than governing "terms and conditions of criminal law enforcement activities"
  • Clarifies that law enforcement agreements cannot limit powers, duties, and responsibilities otherwise conferred upon law enforcement entities by existing law, rule, or regulation
  • Allows agreements to include provisions for appointing tribal members or Nation employees as police officers under Criminal Procedure Law section 1.20, and removes provisions allowing agreements to define criminal offenses and penalties
  • Eliminates the requirement that state courts give full force and effect to agreement provisions in criminal proceedings arising from offenses on Seneca Nation lands

Legislative Description

Provides that a person shall not be deemed to have entered the lands owned or occupied by a nation, tribe, or band of Indians if such person is temporarily and continuously passing through such lands; provides that at the request of the Seneca nation, the superintendent of state police, a sheriff of a county that includes lands of the Seneca nation, or the chief of police of the city of Salamanca may enter into an agreement with the Seneca nation detailing the activities such law enforcement entity will undertake within the nation's federally-recognized Indian Country lands; provides that such agreements shall not be construed to limit powers, duties, and responsibilities to undertake activities on Indian lands; and provides that such agreements may include provisions related to the appointment of tribal members of Nation employees as police officers.

Last Action

SIGNED CHAP.88

2/13/2026

Committee Referrals

Judiciary1/20/2026
Rules1/8/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available