Tribal Code of the MHA Nation
This page contains the official code of laws enacted by the Tribal Council, including current and upcoming provisions.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THE ELECTION ORDINANCE OF
THE TRIBAL CODE
Please take Notice that the Tribal Business Council of the Three Affiliated Tribes - MHA
Nation has approved that an amended Election Ordinance be considered for enactment by the
Tribal Business Council at its regularly scheduled April 2026 Tribal Business Council Meeting,
tentatively scheduled for April 9, 2026.
The Tribal Business Council is taking comments from the Public on the proposed Election
Ordinance of the Tribal Code, and will consider your comments when it takes final action on the
proposed Election Ordinance.
Draft copies of the proposed Election Ordinance are available on this website by going
to the “Tribal Council” tab and then going to the “Tribal Code” tab and at the Tribal
Legal Dept., located in the old Tribal Administration Building, 404 Frontage Road, New
Town, ND. You may also request a copy from Tyra Wilkinson at
twilkinson@mhanation.com.
The Public has thirty (30) days from the date of February 11, 2026 to submit any written
comments on the proposed Election Ordinance. The written comments are to be submitted to the
Office of the Tribal Secretary either by hard copy or by electronic submission via the Tribal e-
mail system. Comments must be in writing and must be signed by the individual submitting the
comments. If submitted by hard copy, the comments must be placed in an envelope and be
identified on the outside of the envelope as comments on the proposed Election Ordinance. All
comments are to be submitted by 4:30 p.m. (cst) on March 13, 2026.
Current
Effective June 1, 2025
Effective July 1, 2025
Upcoming
Title 1 – Tribal Code
Chapter I General Provisions
Section 1 - Authority and Construction
Section 2 - Establishment of Courts
Section 3 - Jurisdiction of the Courts
Section 4 - Composition
Chapter 2 Administration
Section 1 - Jury Selection
Section 2 - Disqualification of Judge
Section 3 - Attorney Licenses
Section 4 - Advocate Licenses
Section 5 - Appellate Rules of Procedure
Section 6 - Contempt of Court
Section 7 - Local Rules
Chapter 3 Evidence
Rule 1 - Scope
Rule 2 - Federal Rules
Rule 3 - Indian customs
Rule 4 - Reports
Rule 5 - Reserved
Chapter 4 Reserved
Election of Chief Judge of the TAT Court
TAT Procedures Enacting Tribal Codes
Tribal Court
Title II - Civil Rules
Chapter 1 - Rules of Civil Procedure
Rule 1 - Actions
Rule 2 - Commencement of Actions
Rule 3 - Process
Rule 4 - Service
Rule 5 - Time
Rule 6 - Pleadings
Rule 7 - Defenses and Objections
Rule 8 - Third Party Practice
Rule 9 - Amended Pleadings
Rule 10 - Pre-Trial
Rule 11 - Parties
Rule 12 - Default
Rule 13 - Discovery
Rule 14 - Jury Trial
Rule 15 - Judgment
Rule 16 - Enforcement of Judgment
Rule 17 - Injunctions
Rule 18 - Writs
Rule 19 - Appeals
Rule 20 - Fees and costs
Rule 21 - Reserved
Chapter 2 - Repossession Procedure
Section 1 - Policy
Section 2 - Procedure
Section 3 - Consent
Section 4 - Violations and Penalties
Section 5 - Civil Liability
Chapter 3 - Small Claims Court
Section 1 - Purpose and Scope
Section 2 - Types of Claims
Section 3 - No attorneys
Section 4 - Complaint
Section 5 - Fees and Service
Section 6 - Answer
Section 7 - Default
Section 8 - Subpoena
Section 9 - Witnesses and Evidence
Section 10 - Orders
Section 11 - Payment
Section 12 - Appeal
Section 13 - Removal to Civil Court
Section 14 - Reserved
Chapter 4 - Rights to PARTICIPATE
Civil Exclusion & Removal Code
Civil Procedure Amendments
Title III - Criminal Actions
Chapter I - Rules of Criminal Procedure
Chapter 2 - Criminal Code
Chapter 3 - Sentences
Chapter 4 - Motor Vehicle and Traffic
Chapter 5 - Weapons Laws
Chapter 6 - Drug Laws
Chapter 7 - Extradition
Chapter 8 - Pow Wow Ordinance
Chapter 9 - Reserved
Title IV Juvenile Laws
Chapter I - Current Law
Title V Family Laws
Chapter I - Commitments
Chapter 2 - Guardianships
Chapter 3 - Domestic Relations
Chapter 4 - Child Support (Repealed)
Chapter 5 - Probate
Chapter 6 - Child Welfare Code (Repealed)
Chapter 7 - Name Change
Chapter 8 - Reserved
Chapter 9 - Adoption Code
Chapter 18 - Domestic Violence Code
Chapter 24 - Tribal Parentage Act
Chapter 25 - Tribal Child Support Act
Chapter 26 - Tribal Child Support Guidelines
Title VI Claims and Damages
Chapter I - Obligations Imposed by Law
Chapter 2 - Damages
Chapter 3 - Civil Claims
Chapter 4 - Landlord Tenant
Chapter 5 - Foreclosure
Title VII Business and Licenses
Chapter 1 -Business Enterprises
Chapter 2 - Licensing
Chapter 3 - Employment (TERO)
Chapter 4 - Gaming
Chapter 5 - Tax Laws
Chapter 6 - Alcohol Beverages
Title VIII Health and Safety
Chapter I - Health and Education
Chapter 2 - Recreation and Sports
Chapter 3 - Dog Registration and Rabies Control
Chapter 4 - Pesticide Code
Chapter 5 - Bee Keeping
Chapter 6 - Flood Damage
Title IX Game and Fish
Chapter I - Current Law
Title X Highway
Chapter I - Current Law
Title XII - Elections
Chapter 1 - General Provisions
Chapter 2 - Eligibility of Voters and Candidates
Chapter 3 - Registration of Voters
Chapter 4 - Tribal Election Board and Segment Election Committees
Chapter 5 - Procedures for Voting at Segment Polling Places
Chapter 6 - Procedures for Resident Voting By Absentee Ballot
Chapter 7 - Canvassing of Ballots
Chapter 8 - Special Runoff Elections
Chapter 9 Contest of Election
Title XIV - Child Welfare Code
Chapter 1 - General Provisions
Chapter 2 - Conduct of Hearings
Chapter 3 - Children and Family Services
Chapter 4 - Reports, Investigation, and Removal
Chapter 5 - Intervention and Transfer of Case Under the Indian Child Welfare Act
Chapter 6 - Youth-In-Need-Of-Care Dependency Proceedings
Chapter 7 - Foster Care Licensing Standards
Chapter 8 - Permanent Legal Guardianship
Chapter 9 - Termination of Parental Rights
Chapter 10 - Reserved
Chapter 11 - Emancipation
Title XV - Law Enforcement
Appendix: Laws and Agreements
Constitution
Appellate Rules of Procedure
Local Rules
Table of Key Cases by Titles
Agreements
Other
Sources: TAT Resolution 97-54-DSB