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DelawareHB 131153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6 AND 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PET STORES AND ANIMAL WELFARE.

Sponsored By: Kimberly Williams (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Pet sellers face enforcement and fines

Starting six months after enactment, Delaware's Office of Animal Welfare enforces the retail pet store law. Its officers can investigate, search, seize, detain, arrest, and carry out legal process related to these rules. A violating pet store or broker faces a $500 civil penalty for each violation. Each illegal offer of an animal for sale counts separately, so penalties add up across offers. Collected fines, penalties, and forfeitures under retail pet store laws go to the enforcing agency, not households.

Pet licenses end; kennel safeguards apply

Starting six months after enactment, Delaware ends annual retail dog outlet licenses. Pet stores cannot receive dog or kennel licenses or sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of dogs. Welfare officers can inspect kennels for humane care during business hours or by appointment. Entry into a dwelling or structure housing a dog requires the owner's permission or a search warrant. Operators with violations receive a warning and at least 10 business days to fix them. The Department can extend that period by up to 60 days. Unfixed violations trigger fines under the existing schedule and can lead to kennel license suspension. Operators can seek administrative review of a suspension. After suspension, officers can seize and impound dogs when reasonable grounds show their health, safety, or welfare is endangered.

Pet stores lose sales, keep adoptions

Starting six months after enactment, Delaware pet stores and brokers cannot sell, lease, offer, barter, auction, or transfer dogs or cats. Brokers are businesses or people that transfer animals for resale as household pets. Covered stores include flea markets, farmers markets, and other places selling or auctioning pets for profit. Exceptions cover shelters, rescues, residents selling only animals raised on-site, and places selling only one litter or part of one annually. Stores can host shelter or rescue adoption displays only when the organization did not buy the animals. The store owner or operator must have no financial interest in their sale. Qualifying rescues must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on animal rescue and placement, not groups buying animals from breeders or brokers.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kimberly Williams

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alonna Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel Cruce

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mara Gorman

    Democratic • House

  • Krista Griffith

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie L. Hansen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kyra L. Hoffner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Larry Lambert

    Democratic • House

  • Eric Morrison

    Democratic • House

  • DeShanna U Neal

    Democratic • House

  • Melanie Ross Levin

    Democratic • House

  • Claire Snyder-Hall

    Democratic • House

  • Laura V. Sturgeon

    Democratic • Senate

  • John "Jack" Walsh

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 89 • No: 10

House vote • 6/18/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 41 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/16/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 15 • No: 6

House vote • 1/20/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 33 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    7/23/2026Governor

  2. Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES

    6/18/2026House

  3. Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO

    6/16/2026Senate

  4. Amendment SA 1 to HB 131 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT

    6/16/2026Senate

  5. Amendment SA 1 to HB 131 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

    5/13/2026House

  6. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

    5/13/2026Senate

  7. Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

    1/20/2026Senate

  8. Passed By House. Votes: 33 YES 4 NO 1 NOT VOTING 3 ABSENT

    1/20/2026House

  9. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 6 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits

    5/14/2025House

  10. Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

    5/1/2025House

Bill Text

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