Status of the ARTIST Act
S 254, known as the Alaska’s Right to Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act, was signed into law by the President on June 12, 2026, becoming Public Law No: 119-99. The bill’s path to enactment concluded following a successful vote in the House of Representatives on June 3, 2026, where it passed with a bipartisan majority of 404 yeas to 14 nays, with 12 members not voting.
Legislative intent and scope
The ARTIST Act addresses the intersection of state commerce regulations and traditional Alaska Native handicrafts. The law establishes a federal prohibition against states imposing bans on the interstate commerce, importation, sale, transfer, trade, barter, or possession of specific marine mammal products.
Under the provisions of the act, these protections apply to marine mammal ivory, bone, or baleen that is legally produced by an Alaska Native as an authentic article of clothing or handicraft. The legislation includes language intended to ensure that these protections do not negatively impact the rights of Indian Tribes as defined under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
Legislative history and committee oversight
Introduced on January 24, 2025, by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), the bill received support from Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) as a cosponsor. The proposal was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for review.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a cost estimate for the bill on August 15, 2025, following the committee's decision to order the bill reported on June 25, 2025. The legislative record includes seven distinct text versions and two official summaries, reflecting the bill's development through the 119th Congress.
Research context and sector analysis
LawLinter data analysis identifies several sectors relevant to the bill’s subject matter, including:
Tribal Governments: The bill contains multiple references to the rights of Indian Tribes and the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
Education: The analysis flags the bill due to its statutory references to federal education and assistance frameworks.
Transportation: The bill was processed through the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The legislative graph also notes the existence of three related bills, specifically identifying HR 5694 as a companion or related measure under the same title.
