SessionLayer hijacks xform edits from active layer

[asisoudai]

Describe the bug
When connecting Maya controller transform to drive a USD prim using MayaUSD, edits made to the Prim
are written to the USD SessionLayer, even though the "Assembly Layer" is set as the active edit target.
This results in unexpected authoring of data in the SessionLayer.

Steps to reproduce
See attached attachment.zip which reproduces the issue. Or step by step:

1. Load the MayaUSD plugin
2. Open a USD file with a layer and prims (attached assembly.usd).
3. Create a Maya controller (e.g., a locator) and connect its transform attributes to a USD prim.
4. Explicitly set the Assembly Layer as the active edit target in both Maya and USD.
5. Move the controller in Maya.
6. Bug: The SessionLayer will have xformOp edits, even due it's not the active edit layer.

Expected behavior
Edits to the controller's transforms should be written to the active-edit layer (Assembly Layer).

Attachments

• Reproduction script (this file)
• USD file used in the script: assembly.usda

Specs:

• OS & version: Linux-5.14.0-570.25.1.el9_6.x86_64-x86_64-with-glibc2.34
• Maya version: Autodesk MAYA 2025.3.0-7.0.PFIX
• mayaUsd plugin version: 0.30.0 & 0.33.0
• mayaUsd build date: Thu 07/03/2025, 202507030550
• mayaUsd CutIdentifier: 202507022244_1cbb7f7
• mayaUsd gitCommit: 1cbb7f786e5cdccef07234176a89a9f97004cca9
• mayaUsd Build Numner: 154

Impact
This bug can lead to confusion and potential data loss, as edits are not authored in the intended layer.
It disrupts expected USD authoring workflows in Maya.

Workaround/Attempts

• Using Edit Routing documentation did not work either (mayaUsd.lib.registerEditRouter('attributes', routeToAssemblyLayer))

None known at this time.

Extra Context::

• I cannot reproduce this issue in mayapy, so it might be a clue worth exploring.

[wallworm]

Thanks for reporting. We've had some other reports of this. We will look into it.