# Delaware HB 131: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6 AND 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PET STORES AND ANIMAL WELFARE. Delaware HB 131, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6 AND 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PET STORES AND ANIMAL WELFARE., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) House bill sponsored by Kimberly Williams (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-07-23 (Signed by Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB131-153 - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Delaware HB 131 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 6 AND 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PET STORES AND ANIMAL WELFARE. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-05-01 - Last action: 2026-07-23, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Kimberly Williams (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 14 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (89 yes, 10 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Pet sellers face enforcement and fines: cost, medium. 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.… - Pet licenses end; kennel safeguards apply: mixed, medium. 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… - Pet stores lose sales, keep adoptions: mixed, medium. 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 sell… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Kimberly Williams (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Alonna Berry (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mara Gorman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Krista Griffith (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Larry Lambert (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Eric Morrison (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: DeShanna U Neal (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Melanie Ross Levin (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Claire Snyder-Hall (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-18 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 41 | 0 | | | 2026-06-16 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 15 | 6 | | | 2026-01-20 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 33 | 4 | | ## Actions (10) - 2026-07-23: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES (House) - 2026-06-16: Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO (Senate) - 2026-06-16: Amendment SA 1 to HB 131 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-05-13: Amendment SA 1 to HB 131 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (House) - 2026-05-13: Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits (Senate) - 2026-01-20: Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate (Senate) - 2026-01-20: Passed By House. Votes: 33 YES 4 NO 1 NOT VOTING 3 ABSENT (House) - 2025-05-14: Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 6 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits (House) - 2025-05-01: Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2025-05-01: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142170&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2) ## Related bills - HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. (passed house) - HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS. (signed) - SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. (vetoed) - HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITY CONSUMERS. (vetoed) - SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed) - HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND EQUIPMENT. (failed) ## Sources - [Current (HTML)](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142170&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2) ## Related - [HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB449-153) - [HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB357-153) - [SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB279-153) - [HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB393-153) - [SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153) - [HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB356-153) - [Delaware bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware/bills) - [Delaware state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB131-153 (as of 2026-10-11).