# Delaware HB 278: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS CONCERNING GAME AND FISH. Delaware HB 278, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS CONCERNING GAME AND FISH., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) House bill sponsored by Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-06-10 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB278-153 - 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 278 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REGULATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS CONCERNING GAME AND FISH. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-27 - Last action: 2026-06-10, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (Republican) - Cosponsors: 9 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (57 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More firearm options for Delaware hunters: benefit, low. Qualifying handguns and rifles are allowed during firearm deer seasons and a separate January season. The January season runs from the first Saturday through the second Sunday following that Saturday. Eligible deer-hunting lands include private land south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, desig… - More muzzleloader options for Delaware hunters: benefit, low. During Delaware’s primitive weapon season, hunters can use muzzle-loading rifles with a bore of at least .40 inch. Primer ignition is allowed, and rifles no longer have a minimum powder charge. The minimum ball size drops from .42 to .40 caliber; multi-projectile loads and explosive bullets are pro… - More Sunday hunting for Delaware hunters: benefit, low. Sunday hunting or pursuit is allowed for dog training, red fox hunting with dogs, and commercial game-preserve operations. It is also allowed during department-set seasons, on private land at the owner’s choice, and through department deer-control programs. Public land must be designated by the res… - Hunters face new game animal rules: mixed, low. The law adds skunk and weasel to Delaware’s game animal list and removes hare. Rabbit remains listed. It also makes the Bryant fox-squirrel protected wildlife, so hunters cannot take it as game. - Raccoon hunters get options and limits: mixed, low. Raccoon and opossum hunters can use rimfire pistols without the former .22-caliber requirement; no replacement caliber limit is stated. Killing these animals is barred from one hour before sunrise through one hour after sunset. Trapping and hunting with dogs follow periods set by Delaware’s wildlif… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Eric Buckson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: William J. Carson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dave G. Lawson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Nicole Poore (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: David L. Wilson (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-07 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 19 | 0 | | | 2026-03-17 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 38 | 1 | | ## Actions (11) - 2026-06-10: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-05-07: Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-05-05: Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 8 On Its Merits (Senate) - 2026-03-17: Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-17: Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 1 NO 2 ABSENT (House) - 2026-03-17: Amendment HA 2 to HB 278 - Passed In House by Voice Vote (House) - 2026-03-17: Amendment HA 1 to HB 278 - Passed In House by Voice Vote (House) - 2026-03-17: Amendment HA 2 to HB 278 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (House) - 2026-03-11: Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 6 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits (House) - 2026-03-10: Amendment HA 1 to HB 278 - Introduced and Placed With Bill (House) - 2026-01-27: Introduced and Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142814&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 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed) - 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) - 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=142814&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 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153) - [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) - [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-HB278-153 (as of 2026-10-11).