Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026

Section 3(e) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3372(e)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking in paragraph (2) and inserting in paragraphs (2) and (3);

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by inserting an entity licensed to hold animals under a Class B license from the Department of Agriculture, before an entity exhibiting animals;

(ii) in clause (i)—

(I) in subclause (I), by inserting, including an owner, executive, or volunteer, after or contractor; and

(II) in subclause (II), by inserting or other veterinary or medical professional, such as a veterinary assistant, veterinary technician, or non-veterinary specialist after veterinarian); and

(iii) in clause (ii), by striking snow leopard (Uncia uncia),;

(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking or at the end;

(C) in subparagraph (E)(iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting; or; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

(F) a person described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) that is in possession of any prohibited wildlife species and—

(i) registers each individual animal of each prohibited wildlife species possessed by the person with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and

(ii) beginning on the date of such registration, does not—

(I) breed, acquire, or sell any prohibited wildlife species;

(II) allow direct contact between the public and any prohibited wildlife species; and

(III) exhibit to the public any prohibited wildlife species.

(D) ; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an entity or a facility described in paragraph (2)(A) that is in compliance with the requirements of that paragraph may export to or import from a foreign entity that is authorized to operate in the country within which it is located and is lawfully operating in such country at the time of such export or import a prohibited wildlife species.

A covered registered entity or individual may submit to the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, an application to cancel the registration under paragraph (2)(E) of such covered registered entity or individual.

A covered registered entity or individual shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph (A) evidence sufficient for the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to determine that the covered registered entity or individual qualifies for an exception from the application of paragraph (1) pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) as of the date on which the covered registered entity or individual—

(i) registered with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under paragraph (2)(E); and

(ii) submits such application.

If the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, makes an affirmative determination under subparagraph (B) with respect to an application submitted by a covered registered entity or individual under subparagraph (A), the Director shall grant such application.

In this paragraph, the term covered registered entity or individual means an entity or individual described in paragraph (2)(E) that—

(i) is in compliance with the requirements of that paragraph;

(ii) registered with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as described in that paragraph; and

(iii) would have, on the date of such registration, qualified for an exception from the application of paragraph (1) pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2).

Section 2(h) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371(h)) is amended—

(1) by striking The term and inserting the following:

The term

(1) ; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

The term prohibited wildlife species does not include the snow leopard (Uncia uncia) or the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) or any hybrid of either such species.