Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens tribal control, protection, and infrastructure for Native American seeds and clarifies federal implementation, but it does so with narrower eligibility, expanded secrecy, and reduced judicial oversight that may limit access, transparency, and accountability.
Indigenous tribal communities gain legal and operational support to identify, protect, store, and control access to Native American seeds (seed banks, confidentiality, and protections), helping preserve cultural heritage, food sovereignty, and local agricultural resilience.
Federal definitions and roles are clarified (using established ISDEAA definitions and naming the Secretary as the Secretary of the Interior), making it easier for tribes and tribal organizations to know eligibility and which federal office will implement the program — reducing administrative confusion and speeding program access.
The bill narrows grounds for de novo judicial review of agency interpretations, which should reduce litigation and associated costs for agencies and taxpayers and allow faster administrative implementation.
Narrow statutory definitions and reliance on ISDEAA recognition risk excluding some tribes, groups, or seed varieties (especially those with less-documented cultural ties), limiting who can access programs and protections.
The bill limits judicial review and gives presumptive deference to the Secretary's interpretations, reducing ability of individuals, states, or others to challenge agency actions and weakening checks and balances on administrative power.
Broad non-disclosure provisions (including language that operates 'notwithstanding any other law') may restrict transparency and hinder researchers, public programs, and state partners from accessing information needed for seed conservation and broader scientific work.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Interior Secretary to identify and help protect Tribal traditional seeds and seed systems, with confidentiality protections; actions require appropriations.
Introduced December 3, 2025 by Norma Judith Torres · Last progress December 3, 2025
Requires the Interior Secretary to work with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to identify seeds of traditional or cultural significance (“Native American seeds”) and to support Tribal efforts to protect those seeds, Tribal seed banks, and traditional agricultural systems. The law bars disclosure of Tribe-designated culturally sensitive or proprietary information, gives courts instruction to defer to the Secretary’s reasonable interpretation of this law, and specifies that no new funds are authorized—any actions depend on future appropriations and must begin within one year of enactment.