ARTIST Act
This bill protects the right of coastal Alaska Natives to harvest marine mammals for food and to craft and sell authentic handmade goods made from ivory, bone, or baleen. It allows these handmade items to be sold across state lines and prohibits individual states from banning their sale, trade, or possession. Federal regulators could still restrict hunting if an animal population becomes depleted, but they must publicly prove any restrictions are supported by substantial evidence, including Indigenous knowledge.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Coastal Alaska NativesSec. 2(b)(2) and Sec. 2(b)(4) exempt coastal Alaska Natives from federal marine mammal hunting bans for subsistence and authentic handicrafts, allow them to sell edible meat locally, and protect their ability to sell authentic ivory, bone, and baleen handicrafts in interstate commerce free from state-level bans.
Who it burdens
- State governmentsSec. 2(b)(4) prohibits states from enacting or enforcing bans on the import, sale, possession, trade, or interstate commerce of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts made with marine mammal ivory, bone, or baleen.
- Federal wildlife agenciesSec. 2(b)(3)(C)–(E) requires federal agencies to conduct notice-and-hearing proceedings before imposing harvest restrictions and, if challenged by an Alaska Native organization, to produce and publish written determinations showing their regulations or depleted-status findings are supported by substantial evidence and Indigenous knowledge.
- Commercial mass-producers of Native-style craftsSec. 2(b)(1)(A) and Sec. 2(b)(2)(B)(i) prohibit makers or sellers from marketing items in interstate commerce as authentic Alaska Native handicrafts if they are produced using pantographs, multiple carvers, or mass-copying devices.
The provisions, in plain language.
Show all 6 provisions
Exempts coastal Alaska Natives from federal marine mammal hunting bans when animals are taken non-wastefully for food or to make and sell traditional handicrafts and clothing.
Allows Alaska Native handicrafts and clothing to be sold across state lines only if they are made from natural materials and crafted without mass-copying devices.
Prohibits states from banning the sale, import, interstate commerce, or possession of marine mammal ivory, bone, or baleen crafted into authentic Alaska Native handicrafts and clothing.
Permits edible meat and parts from marine mammals harvested for handicrafts to be sold for Native consumption or within Native Alaskan villages and towns.
Authorizes the federal government to restrict marine mammal hunting by coastal Alaska Natives if a species or population is determined to be depleted, following public notice and hearings.
Requires federal agencies, when challenged by an Alaska Native organization, to publish written proof that hunting restrictions or depleted-species designations are backed by substantial evidence, including Indigenous knowledge.
Exempts coastal Alaska Natives from federal marine mammal hunting bans when animals are taken non-wastefully for food or to make and sell traditional handicrafts and clothing.
Allows Alaska Native handicrafts and clothing to be sold across state lines only if they are made from natural materials and crafted without mass-copying devices.
Prohibits states from banning the sale, import, interstate commerce, or possession of marine mammal ivory, bone, or baleen crafted into authentic Alaska Native handicrafts and clothing.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on ARTIST Act.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 21 actions
- Became Public Law No: 119-99.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 14 (Roll no. 193).
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 14 (Roll no. 193).
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3794)
- At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 254.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3765-3766; text: CR H3765)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7007-7009; text: CR S7008)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 178.
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-73.
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Introduced in Senate
- Became Public Law No: 119-99.
- Signed by President.
- Presented to President.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 14 (Roll no. 193).
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 14 (Roll no. 193).
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7007-7009; text: CR S7008)
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-73.
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Introduced in Senate
Read it for yourself.
Sources & provenance
- Public Law 119-99
- primary source →
- primary source →
Cite this page
Civic Herald. “ARTIST Act (S. 254, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-s-254. Congress.gov record as of Aug 4, 2026.