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H.R. 8401119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Jun 3, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the transport, purchase, and sale of pelts of, and handicrafts, garments, and art produced from, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters that are taken for subsistence purposes.
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
The bill would let legally hunted sea otter pelts and products made from them be sold, transported, and exported.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
HR 8401 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow pelts from northern sea otters hunted for subsistence in Southcentral and Southeast Alaska to be transported, bought, and sold. It would also let handicrafts, garments, and art made from those pelts be transported, bought, sold, or exported, regardless of style or how much the pelt was altered. It does not change existing hunting limits.
It mainly affects Alaska Native hunters and artisans who currently face restrictions on selling raw pelts or finished pelt products. It could also affect art dealers, tourists, fur traders, and wildlife agencies that track marine mammal products.
The change would alter how sea otter products are tracked and regulated under federal law, drawing interest from conservation groups and wildlife management agencies.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Subcommittee Hearings Held