Delaware Legislative Overview – 2025 Session
DELAWARE Legislative Overview – 2025 Session
(Adjourned on June 30, 2025)
5 pet related items were proposed during the 1st year of the 2025-26 legislative session, 4 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| HB 131 | Statewide Retail Pet Sale Ban: Amends Title 6 (Commerce & Trade), Subtitle II (Other Laws Relating to Commerce & Trade) of Delaware Code by creating a new Chapter 40A (Retail Pet Stores) to prohibit retail pet stores from selling dogs or cats. | HELD OVER TO 2026 (2025 SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| HB 134 | Animal Cruelty Offenses – Penalty Enhancement: Amends Title 11 (Crimes & Criminal Procedure), Chapter 5 (Specific Offenses), Subchapter VII (Offenses Against Public Health, Order and Decency), Section 1325 (Cruelty to animals; class A misdemeanor; class F felony) of Delaware Code to strengthen Delaware’s animal cruelty laws by escalating penalties for repeat offenses and extending prohibitions on animal ownership for convicted individuals. | HELD OVER TO 2026 (2025 SESSION ADJOURNED) |
| SB 118 | Compensatory Damages Awards – Removal of Sunset Clause: An Act to remove the October 14, 2025 Sunset Clause for SB 258-1 (enacted in 2022) which permitted pet owners to pursue compensatory damages without limitation for veterinary bills incurred to care for a pet that was injured by the negligence, reckless, or intentional acts of another individual or that individual’s pet. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 8/20/25) |
| SB 174 | Animal Abuser Offender List: Amends Title 11 (Crimes & Criminal Procedure), Chapter 41 (Fines, Costs, Penalties and Forfeitures) and Title 16 (Health & Safety), Chapter 30F (Animal Welfare) of Delaware Code to create a public Animal Abuse Offender List in Delaware, restricting animal adoptions to individuals on the list, and setting procedures for maintaining and updating offender information. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 8/21/25) |
View ALL Delaware legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2025-26 session.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2024-25 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2025 session.