Sponsors (4)
The bill substantially empowers tribes to restore, manage, and benefit from buffalo herds—advancing cultural, economic, and conservation goals—while imposing federal costs, raising biosecurity and land‑use tensions, and creating potential legal, transparency, and continuity challenges that Congress must manage.
Indigenous tribal governments and communities gain substantially greater authority, representation, and legal capacity to manage buffalo and habitat, strengthening tribal sovereignty and co-management of resources.
Tribes can access new federal grants, contracts, and technical assistance to plan, run, and commercialize buffalo restoration programs, creating local economic opportunities and small businesses on tribal lands.
Tribal-led buffalo restoration and habitat management will expand herds, improve herd health and conservation outcomes, and increase locally available culturally important food sources.
Taxpayers may face increased federal spending to fund grants, contracts, technical assistance, transfers, and additional Departmental consultation and administration tied to tribal buffalo programs.
Tribal herds and nearby livestock could face disease or biosecurity risks from animal transfers and movement, while federal/state disease-control rules may also constrain tribal programs.
Expanding buffalo herds and habitat on tribal or nearby lands could restrict or change land uses and grazing, creating conflicts with ranchers, landowners, and local communities.
Based on analysis of 9 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a 7-year program for the Interior Secretary to grant, contract, and transfer surplus bison to Tribes, support buffalo restoration/management, and protect Tribal confidentiality.
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
Creates a temporary, 7-year federal program to help Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations restore, manage, and receive surplus plains bison (Bison bison bison) and buffalo habitat on Indian land. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to consult with Tribes, provide technical assistance, enter agreements and grants, protect Tribal confidential information, and permit transfers of surplus buffalo from Federal lands to Tribal lands, while preserving treaty rights and existing disease/escape laws.