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HR7159119th CongressWALLET

Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would expand who can legally hold and show certain prohibited wild animals and change which species are listed as prohibited. It would require covered holders to register each prohibited animal with the Fish and Wildlife Service and bar breeding, buying, selling, public contact, and exhibition of those animals.

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  • Local zoos and facilities licensed under the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Class B, along with owners, executives, volunteers, and a broader set of veterinary or medical staff, would be recognized as possible possessors or exhibitors of these species.
  • Covered holders would have to register each individual prohibited animal and, beginning on the registration date, may not breed, acquire, or sell those species, allow direct public contact, or exhibit them to the public.
  • The bill would let compliant, covered facilities import from or export to foreign entities lawfully operating in their country. It would also create a process for registered entities to apply to cancel a mistaken registration with the Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New rules for zoos and exhibitors

If enacted, the bill would add USDA Class B license holders to the regulated group. It would also expand covered staff to owners, executives, volunteers, veterinary assistants, and veterinary technicians. People in paragraphs (2)(A), (B), or (C) who possess prohibited wildlife would have to register each individual animal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Beginning on each registration date, registrants would not be allowed to breed, acquire, or sell prohibited species, allow direct public contact, or exhibit them. Compliant facilities described in paragraph (2)(A) could export to or import from foreign entities that are authorized and lawfully operating in their country at the time. A registered entity that can show it qualified for an exception both when it registered and when it applies could ask the Secretary of the Interior, through the USFWS Director, to cancel the registration, and the Director must grant the cancellation if the facts are affirmed.

Snow and clouded leopards allowed

If enacted, the bill would remove snow leopards, clouded leopards, and any hybrids of those species from the prohibited wildlife list. That change would let owners or exhibitors legally possess or show those animals under other applicable laws. The change would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]

AZ • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 3/4/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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