Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026

This bill amends the Lacey Act to create a registration system for facilities holding certain "prohibited wildlife species" (like big cats), directly affecting zoos and animal facilities that exhibit or possess these species. Facilities must register each animal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and then stop breeding, selling, or allowing public contact with these species. The bill explicitly excludes snow leopards and clouded leopards (and their hybrids) from the "prohibited" category. It also allows compliant facilities to export/import prohibited species to foreign facilities operating legally in their home countries.