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DelawareSB 174153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)Senate

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN ANIMAL ABUSE OFFENDER LIST.

Sponsored By: Nicole Poore (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Listed animal abusers cannot adopt pets

Animal shelters must check Delaware’s animal abuse offender list before approving an adoption. They cannot approve adoptions for anyone on the list, adding a safeguard for animals while restricting adoption access. A pet store hosting shelter adoptions is exempt only when it has no ownership interest in the animals offered.

Public animal abuse list identifies adults

Delaware’s Office of Animal Welfare must post a public animal abuse offender list on its website. It covers adults with qualifying court outcomes for animal cruelty, animal fighting or baiting, bestiality, offenses against law-enforcement animals, and illegal trade in dog or cat byproducts. Qualifying outcomes include guilty pleas, no-contest pleas, limited-admission guilty pleas, jury verdicts, and court findings of guilt. They also include probation-before-judgment discharge without conviction and findings of not guilty because of mental disease or defect. Court clerks must send the judgment and birth date within 21 calendar days of judgment. The list shows legal names, aliases, birth dates, booking photos, and the specific crime. It excludes Social Security, driver’s license, and other state or federal identification numbers. Records stay listed for 5 years for misdemeanors and 15 years for felonies. The Office must remove them afterward if the person has no new animal abuse conviction while listed. The Office can issue rules to carry out the law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Nicole Poore

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Daniel Cruce

    Democratic • Senate

  • Stephanie L. Hansen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Debra Heffernan

    Democratic • House

  • Kimberly Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Melanie Ross Levin

    Democratic • House

  • John "Jack" Walsh

    Democratic • Senate

  • David L. Wilson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 68 • No: 10

Senate vote • 6/30/2025

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 15 • No: 6

House vote • 6/30/2025

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 38 • No: 1

Senate vote • 6/12/2025

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 15 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    8/21/2025Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO

    6/30/2025Senate

  3. Suspension of Rules in Senate

    6/30/2025Senate

  4. Passed By House. Votes: 38 YES 1 NO 1 ABSENT 1 VACANT

    6/30/2025House

  5. Amendment HA 2 to SB 174 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

    6/30/2025House

  6. Amendment HA 1 to SB 174 - Stricken in House

    6/30/2025House

  7. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 13 On Its Merits

    6/18/2025House

  8. Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

    6/12/2025House

  9. Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 3 NO 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT

    6/12/2025Senate

  10. Amendment SA 1 to SB 174 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT

    6/12/2025Senate

  11. Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable

    6/11/2025Senate

  12. Introduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

    6/5/2025Senate

Bill Text

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