The purpose of the Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026 is to update and clarify laws related to the management of captive wildlife under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981. This legislation aims to balance the protection of wildlife with the needs of licensed facilities, such as zoos, that care for these animals. Key provisions of the Act include several important changes. First, it expands the definition of entities that can hold prohibited wildlife species to include those with a specific Class B license from the Department of Agriculture.