H.R. 5694 · On the floor · Native Americans

ARTIST Act

Sponsor: Nicholas J. Begich III (R-AK)

What it does

• Prohibits states from banning the importation, sale, transfer, trade, barter, or possession of marine mammal ivory, bone, or baleen produced by Alaska Natives as authentic handicrafts and clothing.
• Protects the right of Alaska Natives to produce and distribute marine mammal products legally under this Act across state lines.
• Preempts state-level restrictions that would otherwise block Alaska Native marine mammal products from entering or being sold in other states.

Official summary

Alaska’s Right To Ivory Sales and Tradition Act or the ARTIST Act This bill prohibits states from imposing bans on marine mammal products produced by Alaska Natives. Specifically, states may not prohibit the importation, sale, transfer, trade, barter, or possession of marine mammal ivory, marine mammal bone, or baleen legally produced by an Alaska Native as an authentic Alaska Native article of handicrafts and clothing.

Latest action

Jun 2, 2026: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 588.

Committee: House Natural Resources