DelawareHB 324153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)House

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TATTOO PARLORS, BODY PIERCING ESTABLISHMENTS, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Sponsored By: DeShanna U Neal (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Free trafficking training for body-art workers

Beginning one year after enactment, Delaware's health department must share a list of nonprofits offering online or in-person human-trafficking training. It must encourage tattoo and piercing shops to have employees, contractors, and other workers attend, but attendance is not required. Training is free for these workers and includes a completion certificate. It covers recognizing and responding to trafficking, referring clients to victim resources, and reporting signs to the national hotline and local police. Nonprofit providers must be approved by the health secretary in coordination with the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council.

Tattoo shops must post trafficking awareness signs

Beginning one year after enactment, Delaware's health department must require tattoo shops to display a visible human-trafficking awareness sign. Shops must place it in a window or another suitable location. The Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council can provide or help develop the sign's wording or design. This sign requirement applies to tattoo shops, not body-piercing shops.

Safety rules for tattoo and piercing shops

Beginning one year after enactment, the law gives Delaware's health department authority to set rules for safe, clean tattoo and piercing shops. Tattoo shops include businesses that make permanent skin marks using color or scarring. Body-piercing shops cover nonmedical piercing with inserted objects, but ear piercing is excluded. The law does not spell out the safety standards.

Tattoo and piercing shops pay permit fees

Beginning one year after enactment, Delaware tattoo and body-piercing shops face permit oversight. Permit applications carry a $100 fee, and applicants must meet state health department rules. Shops can renew annually by filing and paying another $100, unless their permit is suspended or revoked. The department can issue restricted, provisional, or other permits and suspend or revoke permits under its rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

DeShanna U Neal
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Eric Buckson
Republican • Senate
Frank Burns
Democratic • House
Stephanie L. Hansen
Democratic • Senate
Russell Huxtable
Democratic • Senate
Kimberly Williams
Democratic • House
Kamela T Smith
Democratic • House
Brian Pettyjohn
Republican • Senate
Marie Pinkney
Democratic • Senate
Nicole Poore
Democratic • Senate
Cyndie Romer
Democratic • House
Melanie Ross Levin
Democratic • House
Claire Snyder-Hall
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 60 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/25/2026

Passed (2/3 required)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 4/16/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Signed by Governor
9/14/2026Governor
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
6/25/2026Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 7 Favorable
5/13/2026Senate
Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
4/16/2026Senate
Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT
4/16/2026House
Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 5 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
3/25/2026House
Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House
3/18/2026House

Bill Text

Current
3/18/2026
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