Contact Congress about H.R. 7159: Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026

This bill would broaden some legal exceptions for zoos and other animal holders under a federal wildlife law. It would also remove snow leopards and clouded leopards from this law’s banned-species list for this section. People who already have covered animals could keep them if they register each animal and stop breeding, buying, selling, showing, or letting the public touch them.

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Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026 is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Latest action on H.R. 7159: Subcommittee Hearings Held

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects zoos, animal exhibitors, and people or facilities that already keep wild animals covered by this law. It also matters for workers and volunteers at those facilities, foreign partner institutions, and federal wildlife officials who review registrations and exception claims.

Why this matters: This bill matters because it could change which zoos, wildlife facilities, and animal owners can legally keep certain wild animals and under what rules. Some facilities may get clearer legal protection for work they already do. At the same time, current owners who use the new registration path would face tight limits on breeding, sales, public contact, and public display. The bill also narrows this section of the law by taking out snow leopards and clouded leopards, and it opens a path for qualifying U.S. facilities to import or export animals with legal foreign partners. How much this changes real-world animal protection or business operations would depend on how agencies apply the new rules.

Key provisions in H.R. 7159

• More facilities could qualify for an exception if they hold animals under a USDA Class B license. The bill says those license holders count under this part of the law.
• More people at a qualifying facility could be covered too. That includes owners, executives, volunteers, veterinary assistants, technicians, and some specialists who are not veterinarians.
• Snow leopards, clouded leopards, and their hybrids would come off this section’s prohibited wildlife list. This changes how this law treats those species under these captive wildlife rules.
• Some people who already have prohibited wildlife species could keep them. They would have to register each animal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and then stop breeding, getting, selling, allowing public contact with, or exhibiting those animals.
• Some U.S. facilities could legally import or export these animals with foreign partners. The foreign entity would have to be legally authorized and operating in its own country, and the U.S. facility would have to meet this bill’s exception rules.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 7159

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 7159

What is H.R. 7159?

This bill would broaden some legal exceptions for zoos and other animal holders under a federal wildlife law. It would also remove snow leopards and clouded leopards from this law’s banned-species list for this section. People who already have covered animals could keep them if they register each animal and stop breeding, buying, selling, showing, or letting the public touch them.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 7159?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 7159?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 7159 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.