HR7159-119

What This Bill Does

The Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026 changes the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 rules for prohibited wildlife species. It adds entities licensed by USDA under a Class B license to the exception framework for holding animals, expands covered personnel to include owners, executives, volunteers, veterinary assistants, veterinary technicians, and other medical professionals, and removes snow leopards from one part of the existing text. It adds a new exception for a person already described in the existing exempt categories who possesses prohibited wildlife species, registers each animal with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and after registration does not breed, acquire, sell, allow direct public contact with, or publicly exhibit the animals. It allows compliant entities or facilities described in the exhibition exception to import from or export to authorized and lawfully operating foreign entities. It creates an application process for a covered registered entity or individual to cancel a mistaken registration if evidence shows the person qualified for an exception when registered and still qualifies when applying. The Fish and Wildlife Service Director must grant the application if the evidence supports qualification. Finally, it excludes snow leopards, clouded leopards, and hybrids of either from the prohibited wildlife species definition.

Who Benefits and How

Local zoos, USDA Class B licensed animal holders, wildlife exhibitors, zoo owners, executives, volunteers, veterinary assistants, veterinary technicians, and compliant foreign facilities benefit from broader statutory exceptions, import-export authority, and a path to cancel mistaken registrations. Facilities holding snow leopards or clouded leopards benefit because those species and hybrids are removed from the prohibited wildlife species definition. The Fish and Wildlife Service benefits from a registration cancellation process with evidence requirements.

Who Bears the Burden and How

United States Fish and Wildlife Service staff must process registrations, cancellation applications, evidence determinations, and import-export oversight. Captive wildlife holders that use the possession exception must register each animal and stop breeding, acquiring, selling, direct public contact, and public exhibition after registration. Animal welfare advocates may see increased concern if more entities qualify for exceptions or cross-border transfers. Foreign facilities must prove lawful authorization and operation in their country. Public-contact businesses lose the ability to use the exception if they allow direct contact.

Key Provisions

• Adds USDA Class B licensed animal holders to the Lacey Act captive-wildlife exception framework.
• Expands covered facility personnel to owners, executives, volunteers, veterinary assistants, veterinary technicians, and other medical professionals.
• Creates a registration-based possession exception that bars breeding, acquisition, sale, public contact, and public exhibition after registration.
• Allows compliant facilities to import from or export to authorized lawful foreign entities.
• Creates an application process to cancel mistaken Fish and Wildlife Service registrations.
• Excludes snow leopards, clouded leopards, and hybrids from the prohibited wildlife species definition.