S. 3945 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 26, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryTribal police firearm access parity
This bill extends certain federal firearm exemptions to tribal law enforcement agencies, bringing them in line with federal, state, and local police departments. Currently, tribal police face restrictions that other law enforcement agencies don't. The bill removes taxes on certain firearm transfers for tribes, allows them to receive firearms shipped across state lines, and permits them to possess certain machine guns—all exemptions already available to other government law enforcement.
How it affects you
Tribal law enforcement officers and the communities they serve would directly benefit, as their departments could access and equip themselves with the same types of firearms available to other police departments. If you live in or near a tribal community, this could affect how your local tribal police operate and what equipment they can use.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 26, 2026)
Tribal Police Department Parity Act
This bill treats tribal law enforcement agencies in the same manner as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of accessing firearms.
The National Firearms Act (NFA) generally imposes a tax on the transfer of an NFA firearm; however, specified governmental entities (e.g., federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies) are exempt from this transfer tax. This bill extends this exemption to Indian tribes (and consequently, to tribal law enforcement agencies).
The Gun Control Act (GCA) generally prohibits the interstate shipment of firearms to unlicensed persons, but exempts specified governmental entities from this prohibition. This bill makes Indian tribes (and consequently, tribal law enforcement agencies) eligible to receive firearms interstate.
The GCA also prohibits the transfer or possession of machine guns manufactured after 1986, but exempts specified governmental entities from this prohibition. This bill makes Indian tribes (and consequently, tribal law enforcement agencies) eligible to transfer or possess these machine guns.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionS. 3945
A BILL
Tribal Police Department Parity Act
Sponsor: Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) · Introduced Feb 26, 2026 · Native Americans · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 26, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.”