Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026

This bill changes federal rules on keeping big cats and other prohibited wildlife species under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981. It adds holders of a Class B Department of Agriculture license to the list of entities exempt from the ban, and lets owners, executives, volunteers, and veterinary staff such as technicians and assistants have direct contact with the animals. It removes snow leopards and clouded leopards, and their hybrids, from the definition of prohibited wildlife species. It allows exempt facilities to export and import these animals with lawfully operating foreign entities, creates a new exception for people who register their animals and stop breeding, selling, exhibiting, or allowing public contact, and lets those who registered by mistake apply to cancel their registration.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Paul A. Gosar Republican sponsor
• 2 cosponsors