# Delaware SB 118: AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 472, VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR TORTIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING DEATH, TO LAWFULLY OWNED PETS.

Delaware SB 118, AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 472, VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR TORTIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING DEATH, TO LAWFULLY OWNED PETS., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Brian Pettyjohn (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-08-20 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB118-153
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Delaware SB 118
- State: Delaware
- Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 472, VOLUME 83 OF THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO CIVIL ACTIONS FOR TORTIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING DEATH, TO LAWFULLY OWNED PETS.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-05-01
- Last action: 2025-08-20, Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (55 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Pet owners keep uncapped vet bill claims: benefit, medium. Delaware pet owners keep the right to seek payment through civil lawsuits for vet bills, with no dollar cap. This covers bills incurred to care for lawfully owned pets injured by another person's negligent, reckless, or intentional acts. Injuries caused by that person's pet also qualify. The law re…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Brian Pettyjohn (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Daniel B. Short (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Gerald W. Hocker (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kimberly Williams (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-06-30 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2025-06-10 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 18 | 0 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2025-08-20: Signed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-06-30: Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 3 ABSENT 1 VACANT (House)
- 2025-06-24: Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 10 On Its Merits (House)
- 2025-06-11: Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House (House)
- 2025-06-10: Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 3 ABSENT (Senate)
- 2025-05-14: Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate (Senate)

## Bill text

- Current, 2025-05-01: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=142163&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=142163&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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB118-153 (as of 2026-10-12).