Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7159 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7159 To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to adjust provisions relating to captive wildlife offenses. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 20, 2026 Mr. Gosar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to adjust provisions relating to captive wildlife offenses. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO CAPTIVE WILDLIFE OFFENSES UNDER LACEY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1981. (a) In General.--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