All Roll Calls
Yes: 55 • No: 24
DelawareSS 1 for SB 300153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)SenateWALLET
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11, TITLE 16, AND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEADLY WEAPONS DEALERS.
Sponsored By: David P. Sokola (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 2 costs, 6 mixed.
Dealers face revocation and reapplication limits
State Police must revoke licenses for losing a valid federal license, firearm prohibitions, felony convictions, or the specified federal trafficking offense. Revocation also applies when dealers knowingly use workers who violate listed training, screening, or qualification rules. Dealers also lose their license for retaining a responsible person they know, or should know, violates the listed revocation rules. A dealer revoked only for lacking a valid federal license can apply again after obtaining one. Dealers revoked for the specified worker violations must wait at least five years before reapplying.
Existing dealers get a licensing transition
By July 1, 2028, State Police must begin notifying valid special deadly-weapons license holders about the new licensing rules. The notice explains that they may need a new state firearm dealer license. Existing special-license holders who need that license can keep selling or transferring firearms during application review. They must apply before January 1, 2029. This permission ends when State Police acts on the application, not automatically on the filing cutoff date.
Dealer workers face screening and training
Dealer employees, contractors, and volunteers handling firearms or ammunition, processing sales, or accessing firearm storage must be 21 and legally eligible. Dealers must arrange background checks before covered duties or access begin, even when a newly covered worker recently had a check. Checks repeat every two years unless available Rap Back monitoring replaces them; State Police notifies dealers and reports worker eligibility. Individual licensees, responsible persons, and workers handling firearms, ammunition, or sales must pass online training every two years. New workers or workers changing to those duties have 30 calendar days, unless they passed within the previous two years. Training covers firearm law, trafficking signs, suicide prevention, theft prevention, reporting, and safety. The exam has at least 20 questions and requires 70% correct answers. Dealers must keep completion certificates for inspection.
Dealer inspections expand; recording rules change
State Police must inspect every licensed dealer's business location at least once every two years. It can also inspect records and conduct reasonable additional inspections during posted business hours. Dealers applying before January 1, 2029, receive their first inspection between January 1, 2029, and December 31, 2030. The law removes the fixed requirement to keep all security recordings for at least three years. State Police must set recording-retention periods by regulation; the new duration is not stated.
Dealer license fees and yearly renewals
Firearm dealers pay $300 for an initial state license and $250 to renew, replacing fees based on firearm sales counts. Initial licenses granted after January 1 may have prorated fees; the law does not state the reduced amount. Renewals are due December 31 each year, with State Police notices by September 30 and decisions within 60 days of receipt. Renewals require a sworn statement of eligibility and compliance, payment, and the prior year's federal firearm-trace count. Dealers also report each traced firearm's make, model, caliber or gauge, transfer date, and federal inspection information with inspection documents. State Police sends trace information to the General Assembly, replacing the Attorney General reporting route. Late or incomplete renewals can bring late fees and block sales or transfers until resolved.
New state licenses for firearm dealers
The law phases in state licensing beginning July 1, 2028, for firearm sellers, including pawnbrokers, who hold or need federal licenses. Sellers transferring 10 or fewer firearms per calendar year are excluded, but may still need a special deadly-weapons license. Sellers exceeding 10 must meet state licensing and application requirements within one calendar year of crossing that limit. Applications require identification, business documents, required liability insurance, a valid federal license, and applicant-paid background checks for individuals and responsible persons. State Police must approve complete applications unless a listed bar applies, such as firearm prohibitions, license disqualifications, or knowingly false statements. Decisions are due within 60 calendar days, or 90 when specified Delaware identification is missing. A temporary firearm prohibition order does not automatically end licensing access: the person must name an eligible responsible person, stop serving in that role, obey the order, and keep compliance records. State Police can request information and make rules, but cannot change statutory eligibility.
Dealers need fewer repeat background checks
Dealer licensees and responsible persons need background checks every two years rather than every year. Results remain valid for two calendar years for initial licenses and renewals. When available, ongoing criminal-history monitoring through Rap Back replaces repeat two-year checks. State Police must tell licensees when that monitoring replaces repeat checks.
State dealer licenses unlock existing exemptions
The new state dealer license can satisfy the license requirement for selling deadly weapons made especially for personal defense. These include pistols, revolvers, stilettos, and steel or brass knuckles; a special deadly-weapons license remains another option. Dealers licensed under the new chapter are exempt from handgun qualified-purchaser permit training, but other buyers are not. They also count as licensed firearm dealers under Delaware's large-capacity magazine laws.
More dealers can access suicide-prevention training
The Delaware Gun Shop Project's online suicide-prevention course is available to dealers licensed under the new state chapter. Existing Chapter 9 dealers and other customers also have access. The project's yearly report counts participating dealers under the new chapter. This provision sets no course fee or required participation date.
Dealer fees fund firearm licensing oversight
The law creates a Firearm Licensing Fund in the State Treasury. Dealer-licensing receipts, including fees, late fees, and civil penalties, go into the fund. Money is dedicated to carrying out the specified firearm laws, and spending requires approval through the annual state budget. Unspent balances carry over each year instead of returning to the General Fund. The General Assembly must use collected money to implement the act and Chapter 9 of Title 24; no total amount is stated.
Firearm sellers must honor do-not-sell registry
State-licensed dealers must check Delaware's Voluntary Firearms Do-Not-Sell Registry when helping with covered firearm sales or transfers. This includes transfers they handle for unlicensed sellers. Unlicensed sellers cannot knowingly sell or transfer a firearm to someone enrolled in the registry.
Firearm records protected; registry exceptions expand
Covered dealer records identifying firearm sellers, buyers, or firearms cannot be released under Delaware's public-records law. This protection extends to records under the new dealer-licensing chapter. The general ban on state firearm registration remains, including its existing exception for people barred from receiving firearms. The law adds exceptions for sales or transfers under sections 916B and 920B of Title 24. Those exceptions do not create a general firearm registry.
Dealer violations bring warnings and penalties
Selling or transferring a firearm without a required state dealer license is a class C felony. Under the chapter's warning process, State Police must warn dealers about a first violation and explain later penalties. Later violations can bring another warning, a $1,000 to $3,000 civil penalty including costs, or license revocation. Before a penalty or revocation under that process, dealers receive notice and a chance to be heard. The Department of Justice can investigate dealer-licensing violations alongside State Police. State Police must report licensee violations to the Bureau.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
David P. Sokola
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Stephanie T. Bolden
Democratic • House
Mara Gorman
Democratic • House
Krista Griffith
Democratic • House
S. Elizabeth Lockman
Democratic • Senate
Sean M. Lynn
Democratic • House
Eric Morrison
Democratic • House
Cyndie Romer
Democratic • House
Bryan Townsend
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 6/30/2026
Passed (3/5 required)
Yes: 14 • No: 7
House vote • 6/25/2026
Passed (3/5 required)
Yes: 27 • No: 11
Senate vote • 5/21/2026
Passed (3/5 required)
Yes: 14 • No: 6
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor
9/3/2026GovernorPassed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 7 NO
6/30/2026SenatePassed By House. Votes: 27 YES 11 NO 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 16 to SS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 16 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
6/25/2026SenateAmendment HA 15 to SS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 14 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 13 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 12 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 11 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 10 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 9 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 8 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 7 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 6 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 5 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 4 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 3 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 2 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 1 to SS 1 - Stricken in House
6/25/2026HouseAmendment HA 15 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
6/24/2026SenateAmendment HA 14 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
6/18/2026SenateAmendment HA 13 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
6/18/2026SenateAmendment HA 12 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
6/18/2026SenateAmendment HA 11 to SS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
6/18/2026Senate
Bill Text
Current
5/8/2026
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