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DelawareSB 168153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

Sponsored By: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic)

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Alcohol delivery businesses pay license fees

Third-party alcohol delivery businesses pay $1,000 for each two-year license under the law's covered licensing rules. This is a business fee, not a direct household charge. The law expires 3 years after enactment unless another law extends it.

Alcohol sellers gain delivery liability protection

Licensed alcohol sellers meet their delivery responsibility when they hand orders to a licensed third-party vendor or its worker. This includes the vendor's employees and independent contractors. After the handoff, the vendor's delivery actions are not treated as the seller's actions. The law expires 3 years after enactment unless another law extends it.

Alcohol stores gain delivery with safeguards

Delaware alcohol sellers with off-premises licenses can offer curbside service and arrange delivery through licensed third-party vendors. Store deliveries must stay within a 5-mile radius. Vendors must be registered in Delaware, cannot hold an off-premises license, and cannot mainly handle interstate goods shipments. They need written agreements with sellers, must provide delivery equipment free, and must give regulators contract copies on request. Delivery workers must be at least 21, have responsible-server certification, and complete approved training on checking IDs, spotting intoxication, and refusing delivery. Workers must check photo ID to confirm recipients are at least 21 and not intoxicated; unverifiable orders must return to the seller. Deliveries must follow the seller's legal sales hours and cannot go out of state or to barred locations. These include state-operated, correctional, medical, educational, retail, mailbox, shipping, and storage locations. Vendors must keep recipients' names, birth dates, and delivery addresses for 2 years. Alcohol must come directly from the seller receiving the order and stay outside the driver's easy reach in vehicles. For online orders, the licensed seller remains the seller in the transaction. The law expires 3 years after enactment unless another law extends it.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John "Jack" Walsh

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • William Bush

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. SS 1 for SB 168 - Signed by Governor

    7/23/2026Governor

  2. SS 1 for SB 168 - Passed By House. Votes: 36 YES 1 NO 4 ABSENT

    6/25/2026House

  3. SS 1 for SB 168 - Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 4 On Its Merits

    6/23/2026House

  4. SS 1 for SB 168 - Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

    6/16/2026House

  5. SS 1 for SB 168 - Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 10 On Its Merits

    6/16/2026House

  6. SS 1 for SB 168 - Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House

    6/10/2026House

  7. SS 1 for SB 168 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT

    6/9/2026Senate

  8. SS 1 for SB 168 - Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

    5/20/2026Senate

  9. SS 1 for SB 168 - Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate

    5/13/2026Senate

  10. SS 1 for SB 168 - Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits

    5/13/2026Senate

  11. Substituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 168

    4/21/2026Senate

  12. Introduced and Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate

    6/5/2025Senate

Bill Text

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