Don Young Doug LaMalfa Indian Buffalo Management Act
Sponsored By: Representative Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]
In Committee
Summary
A federal-tribal partnership to restore and manage buffalo on Indian lands. This bill would create a government-to-government framework that funds and supports tribal buffalo herds, habitat restoration, and tribal participation in management decisions.
Show full summary
- Tribes and Tribal organizations would be eligible for grants, contracts, and technical assistance to plan, restore, and manage buffalo herds, and to support mobile tribal meat processing and related commercial activities.
- The Department of the Interior would coordinate with tribes, could transfer surplus buffalo from federal lands to Indian lands, and may waive fees or deposits for those transfers.
- The text emphasizes cultural and subsistence uses, protects culturally sensitive tribal information, preserves treaty rights, and sets the authority to expire after seven years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants and buffalo transfers for Tribes
If enacted, the Interior Secretary would be able to award grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to Indian Tribes and qualifying Tribal organizations to plan and run buffalo restoration and management programs. The Secretary would be able to transfer surplus Federal buffalo to Indian land and could waive transfer fees or deposits. The bill would define 'buffalo' as the subspecies Bison bison bison and limit qualifying Tribal organizations to those chartered under section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act or under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act with demonstrable restoration experience. The bill would use a modified definition of 'Indian land' to decide which parcels count as buffalo habitat and are eligible for transfers and program help.
Seven-year end to program authority
If enacted, the authority created by this bill would end seven years after enactment. After that date, the Secretary would no longer be able to use this law to award grants, make contracts, transfer surplus buffalo under this authority, or provide technical assistance under the Act.
Tribal consultation, data, and treaty protections
If enacted, the Interior Secretary would have to consult Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations within one year and on an ongoing basis when making buffalo or habitat policy. The Secretary would be required to align Department policies with Tribe-approved buffalo programs and Tribal laws. Tribes or Tribal organizations could identify information as culturally sensitive or confidential, and the Department would be barred from disclosing that information. The bill would also say nothing in it changes existing Federal or State laws about diseased or escaped buffalo and would not alter any tribal treaty rights.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]
CO • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Fedorchak
ND • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
WA • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]
TN • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Cole
OK • R
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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