# Delaware SB 257: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ANIMAL SHELTER OPERATION.

Delaware SB 257, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ANIMAL SHELTER OPERATION., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Nicole Poore (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-09-08 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB257-153
- 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 257
- State: Delaware
- Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)
- Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ANIMAL SHELTER OPERATION.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-05-15
- Last action: 2026-09-08, Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Nicole Poore (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (59 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Shelters gain more animal placement options: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, shelters can transfer unclaimed, adoptable animals to another shelter or a registered rescue for adoption. They can also place animals in suitable homes. Shelters must maintain a registry of adoption and long-term placement partners, including breed-specific rescues, list…
- Clearer shelter rules and rescue limits: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Delaware uses standard definitions for shelters, rescues, and foster homes across related animal-care laws. Shelters are nonprofit facilities with physical structures housing stray, abandoned, abused, or owner-surrendered cats or dogs; they may house other species. Foster…
- Shelter licenses add costs and protections: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Delaware shelters must get Department of Health and Social Services licenses and renew them yearly. Each physical branch needs its own license, which cannot be transferred. Application and renewal fees cannot exceed the department's costs to run the program. Shelters gene…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Nicole Poore (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Krista Griffith (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kendra Johnson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kimberly Williams (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Melanie Ross Levin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-30 | House | Passed (3/5 required) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-06-10 | Senate | Passed (2/3 required) | pass | 20 | 0 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2026-09-08: Signed by Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-30: Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT (House)
- 2026-06-18: Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 10 On Its Merits (House)
- 2026-06-11: Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House (House)
- 2026-06-10: Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits (Senate)
- 2026-05-15: Introduced and Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate (Senate)

## Bill text

- Current, 2026-05-15: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143324&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=143324&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-SB257-153 (as of 2026-10-12).