Puerto Rico introduced PC1453, titled the “Special Moratorium Law for Exotic Animals.” Per the bill, “exotic animal” means species that are not part of the native or migratory flora or fauna of Puerto Rico (or all animals and plants not native to Puerto Rico). It is sponsored by Representatives Gutiérrez Colón, Lebrón Robles, and Márquez Lebró.
This bill will:
- Impose a 5-year moratorium (which may be extended) on the importation, introduction, sale, reproduction, and transfer of exotic animals in Puerto Rico;
- Create the Scientific & Animal Welfare Committee on Alien Species to develop a strategy before the moratorium ends; and
- Establish limited exceptions (for scientific, conservation, veterinary, educational, or public safety purposes) and a voluntary surrender program;
- Allow current, legally held animals to be possessed through a Transitory Registry, requiring owners to register their animals within 180 days of the registry’s availability;
- Create penalties for violations, including fines ranging from $500 to $25,000 per animal, depending on the infraction.
The bill was referred to Puerto Rico’s Commission of Natural Resources and Commission of Agriculture.
Read the bill at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/26-PR-PC-1453.pdf.
Track the bill and see full details at https://sutra.oslpr.org/medidas/162354.
Agriculture Commission members: Joito Colón (President), Fernando Sanabria Colón (Vice-president), Joel Franqui Atiles (Secretary), Josean Jiménez, Christian Muriel, Ensol Rodríguez, Odalys González, Emilio Carlo, Swanny Vargas Laureano, Nelie Lebrón Robles, and Lisie Burgos.
Agriculture Commission email list: joecolon@camara.pr.gov, fsanabria@camara.pr.gov, jfranqui@camara.pr.gov, luijimenez@camara.pr.gov, cmuriel@camara.pr.gov, enrodriguez@camara.pr.gov, odgonzalez@camara.pr.gov, ecarlo@camara.pr.gov, svargas@camara.pr.gov, nlebron@camara.pr.gov, lburgos@camara.pr.gov
Natural Resources Commission members: Elinette González Aguayo (President) and Joel Franqui Atiles (Vice-president), Josean Jiménez, Odalys González, Luis Pérez, Jorge Navarro Suárez, and Wilson Román
Natural Resources Commission email list: elgonzalez@camara.pr.gov, jfranqui@camara.pr.gov, luijimenez@camara.pr.gov, odgonzalez@camara.pr.gov, lperez@camara.pr.gov, jnavarro@camara.pr.gov, wroman@camara.pr.gov
Sample Email: Please edit and personalize. (Remember to be civil and professional when emailing legislators!)
Subject line: NO to PC1453
Dear Representative,
I am a responsible reptile owner and Puerto Rican citizen. I oppose PC1453, titled the “Special Moratorium Law for Exotic Animals.” If you are unaware, Puerto Rico already has an extensive regulatory framework governing exotic animals under Appendix 4 of DRNA Regulation 6765. Section 7.03 states that it is illegal to possess, deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship exotic species whose names do not appear in Appendix 4.
As such, PC1453 is overreaching and unnecessary. Rather than imposing a sweeping moratorium affecting legally kept animals and lawful businesses, I believe Puerto Rico should use and update its existing regulatory framework. Appendix 4 already contains a very limited number of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals that are legal.
And to correct some misinformation stated in PC1453, while Ball pythons have been found in the wild in Puerto Rico, there is currently no published evidence demonstrating a self-sustaining, reproducing wild population. DRNA’s Administrative Order 2024-05 explicitly stated that wild reproduction has not been documented, and I found no evidence establishing otherwise. In other words, Ball pythons are not known to have invasive self-sustaining populations here.
I am also concerned about the composition of the proposed Scientific and Animal Welfare Committee on Alien Species. The businesses, breeders, keepers, and other regulated stakeholders who would be directly affected by the legislation are not provided designated representation on the Committee that would develop our new regulations. A process examining future exotic-animal regulation should consider relevant scientific evidence and the practical knowledge and perspectives of affected stakeholders.
I respectfully ask you to oppose PC 1453 and instead direct DRNA to review and update Regulation 6765 and Appendix 4 using current scientific evidence and species-specific risk assessments. Where particular species present demonstrated ecological, agricultural, animal-health, or public-safety risks, those risks can be addressed directly rather than treating the enormous range of nonnative species as presenting the same level of risk. This new bill is redundant and superfluous because the law already exists. Thank you for your time and have a good day.
