Sponsors (5)
Authorizes the Interior Secretary to fund and support Tribal buffalo restoration, transfer surplus Federal buffalo to Tribes, require Tribal consultation, protect Tribal confidential information, and sunsets after seven years.
Official title: Assist Tribal governments in the management of buffalo and buffalo habitat and the reestablishment of buffalo on Indian land.
Introduced December 15, 2025 by Martin Heinrich · Last progress December 15, 2025
The bill significantly strengthens tribal authority, cultural protection, conservation, and economic opportunities around buffalo restoration, but does so at measurable federal cost and with risks of disease, land-use conflicts, reduced public transparency, legal disputes, and potential program discontinuity unless carefully implemented and reauthorized.
Tribal governments and communities gain substantially greater authority, representation, and decision-making power over buffalo and habitat management, strengthening tribal sovereignty and co-management.
Large-scale buffalo restoration and habitat support will improve ecological outcomes and species stewardship, helping rebuild herds and conserve prairie ecosystems.
Tribes can access grants, contracts, technical assistance, and potentially donated animals to develop buffalo-based enterprises and local meat-processing, creating economic and small-business opportunities on tribal lands.
Taxpayers and federal agencies will face increased costs to fund grants, contracts, technical assistance, transfers, and additional administrative workloads associated with implementing and overseeing tribal buffalo programs.
Transferring animals and expanding herds without strict, consistent health-screening and biosecurity requirements could increase disease risk to tribal herds, neighboring livestock, and wider animal health, while existing disease laws may also constrain tribal management actions.
Expanding herds and prioritizing tribal conservation goals may create land-use, grazing, and economic conflicts with nearby private landowners, ranchers, and state wildlife programs and could restrict some existing land uses.
Based on analysis of 9 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes the Department of the Interior to partner with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to restore, manage, and transfer buffalo (Bison bison bison) and buffalo habitat on Indian land. The bill creates grant, contract, and cooperative agreement authorities; requires Tribal consultation and a buffalo-management policy consistent with Tribal plans and laws; protects Tribal confidentiality for culturally sensitive information; allows transfer of surplus Federal buffalo to Tribes; and preserves Tribal treaty rights. All authorities expire seven years after enactment.